Ryan claims bronze medal at World Swimming Championships in China

Shane Ryan has claimed a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in China.

Ryan, whose family hail from Portarlington, broke the Irish record in the semi-finals on Thursday, but lowered it again today by clocking 22.76 to touch the wall in third place.

Ryan took bronze in the same event at the European Long Course championships earlier this year. He came third behind Russia's Evgeny Rylov (22.58) and Ryan Murphy of the USA (22.63).

More below tweet

Shane Ryan'sis a first EVER Senior World Championship Medal in Swimming for Ireland! #FINAHangzhou2018 #teamarenaIRL #TeamIreland ☘️ pic.twitter.com/N2SjVQdbzL

— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) December 14, 2018

Shane was born in the USA, but declared for Ireland through his father Tom, who is from Portarlington, and represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympics.

He lived with relatives in Portarlington while training in Ireland in the run-up to the Rio Olympics.

More below tweet

BRONZE!!! We have a World Medal! What a swim from Shane Ryan 22.76 a new IRISH SENIOR RECORD ☘️ pic.twitter.com/ZH2x2Lwtro

— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) December 14, 2018

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, and the Minister with responsibility for Sport, Brendan Griffin, congratulated Ryan on securing a bronze.

“I would like to congratulate Shane on his medal success in China today. He has produced some fantastic swims at the championship this week and set new Irish records along the way. He is a superb athlete and his success can provide an inspiration to all involved in Irish swimming of what can be achieved on the world stage.”

"I extend my congratulations to Shane on his bronze medal this afternoon. After breaking the Irish record for the third time this week there’s no doubt that he gave it everything at these championships," he said.