Gráinne makes waves in Seniors
Wednesday August 11 2010
IN WHAT is regarded as a remarkable feat, swimming supremo Gráinne Murphy (above) bridged a sizeable gap between an outstanding Junior and a top Senior after her fantastic performance at the European long course championships in Budapest on Monday.
She is said to have bridged this significant gap like no other Irish swimmer before.
The 17-year-old's seventh-place finish in the demanding 400m individual medley, in a time of 4:43.45, was a truly fantastic performance by Gráinne, who claimed no less than three gold medals and a bronze at the European Junior championships just last summer.
Commentators said the young Ballinaboola swimmer displayed great physical and mental strength for someone so young on the opening day of the championships
'It's a really good experience being out here and to be racing against World and European champions and to be in a final with them is a great achievement,' said Gráinne following the race.
'I would have liked to have gone a little bit faster, but there's always positives to think about. My technique was very good and I was strong on all four strokes,' she added.
Swim Ireland hasn't had a finalist at these championships for over a decade and Gráinne's performance delighted Ireland's Performance Director, Peter Banks.
'To step up from the Juniors and produce this kind of performance is special. She could have gone quicker but, all things considered, it was a great effort and it will stand to her for the rest of the meet. It's great for the whole team to have a performance like that and it shows again the potential that Gráinne has,' he added.
- ELAINE FURLONG
