'It's wild' - Record-breaking Irish swimmer with Laois roots 'shocked'

There's be delight in Portarlingon after Shane Ryan stole the headlines this weekend with a new Irish Senior Record in the 50m Freestyle on the penultimate day of racing at the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade.

Ryan was the first swimmer on the blocks on Saturday morning, the 30-year-old blazing through the pool stopped the clock on 21.82.

The time achieved made him Ireland’s fastest-ever swimmer in a long course (50m) pool. The time shaved 0.12 of a second off Tom Fannon’s 21.94 from the Irish Open and Olympic Trials in May, which he equalled just yesterday at the Sette Colli Meet in Rome.

Shane, who is based at the  National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, spoke after the event. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

“I’m shocked, my goal was to go 21.89. That is my first 50 Freestyle in two years, I’m delighted. I had shoulder surgery about two and a half years ago, so I’m delighted with that time. I honestly don’t know what to say, it’s wild,” he said.

The former Olympian was born in Pennsylvania to Tom and Beth. Tom hails from Portarlington he still has plenty of family who have avidly followed his career.

Ryan was unable to repeat his heroics Sunday evening finishing eighth in Europe clocking a time of 22.17 seconds in swimming's blue riband event. 

Ryan said: “I’m a little disappointed about tonight, yesterday took a toll physically and mentally. Look, I haven’t swum that in two years, in a final tonight and at 30 years old and still getting faster and learning, we still make mistakes no matter what level we are at. What a ride so far, we will see what the future holds.

"At the end of the day, I just wanted to turn up, represent the country as best as I can, have fun and swim fast. Yesterday’s record took me by surprise, that time yesterday would have got me third today, these boy’s train 50 Free, I don’t, there’s a lot more there,” he concluded.