GALWAY swimmer John Shortt was the toast of the Irish team at last week’s 2025 European Aquatics Championships in Slovakia, the Roscam teenager winning gold and bronze to account for half of the medals won by Irish swimmers at the meet.

Shortt went into the games as defending 200m backstroke European champion, and while he surrendered that crown when finishing third in last Friday’s final, he wasn’t to be denied another European title, as he claimed gold in the 100m backstroke on Sunday, his third event of the championships.

Shortt (18) headed in to that 100m final as second fastest qualifier, behind neutral athlete Georgii Iakovlev who, along with defending champion, Daniele del Signore from Italy, led the way after the first 50m.

The Galway man was just marginally behind in third, but he took off on the turn, passing both swimmers on the final length to get his touch on the wall first in a time of 54.09, 0.38 ahead of Iakovlev, to claim the gold medal and European title

“It’s been a really hard week,” said Shortt, who became the first-ever Irish swimmer to win back-to-back European titles at junior level in consecutive years, and the first male swimmer to do it at any level.

“The 200m backstroke was so disappointing, I was so down on myself. I had so many people around me to help me out. I’m just really emotional at the minute, it was so hard. I’m just so proud to wear the tricolour on my heart and sleeve, I’m buzzing.

“I’m going to go to Worlds this summer and it’s going to be a good one, I promise you that,” he said, before thanking the support he has received, not just at the meet, but over the last year.

“These guys have given me so much love and support, not only the last few days but over this whole year. It’s been such a rough few weeks and it’s going to be so good to share this moment with them, I think I saw a tear in my dad’s [Frank] eye, so I’ll be sure to mention that to him all of the time now,” he laughed.

He first took the water at the Europeans in the 50m backstroke, finishing fifth in last Wednesday’s final in a new lifetime best of 25.46, just 0.16 of a second off the bronze medal.

The 200m was his second event, and the defending champions eased in the final, clocking the fastest time across both the five heats on Thursday morning, and that evening’s two semi-finals, to go into the final as top-seed and defending champion.

Pictured: Galway swimmer John Shortt shows his delight after winning the European Junior 100m backstroke title.