MELANIE NOCHER QUALIFIED for the Olympics this evening to cap an unforgettable day for Ireland at the European Swimming Championships in Debrecen.
Nocher put in a career best performance to break the Irish national record in the final of the 200m backstroke, her last opportunity to hit the “A” qualifying standard for London 2012.
The Ards native finished fifth in a time of 2:10.75, less than a tenth of a second inside the cut-off to guarantee her place at a second successive Olympic games.
The race was won by Alexianne Castel of France (2:08.41) with Jenny Mensing of Germany (2:09.55) pipping Duane Da Rocha Marce of Spain (2:09.56) to the silver medal.
Seventeen-year-old swimming sensation Sycerika McMahon has also booked her place in the final of the 100m breaststroke.
McMahon qualified for the Olympics and set a new Irish senior record with a time of 1:08.37 in this morning’s heats, and she equaled that time to finish second in this evening’s semi-final behind Carolina Ruhnau of Germany (1:08.01).
Limerick’s Fiona Doyle finished in 12th place overall with a time of 1:09.68, which was not enough for a place in the final which takes place tomorrow evening.
I don’t believe it! McMahon qualifies for London 2012
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