The recipient of The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman Award for February is Mona McSharry, a competitive swimmer. McSharry, notorious for being intensely self-critical, admits she is learning to be a little less harsh on herself as she gets older. Nevertheless, when she is commended for advancing to three finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha and ending in fifth place in two of them, McSharry is swift to point out that she isn’t there yet.
Reflecting on her performance, she shared that she often second-guesses herself, thinking others perceive her as being less successful when she doesn’t meet the high standards she sets for herself. Following the World Championships, she received many encouraging messages, with people at home expressing pride and commending her excellent performance. However, such acclaim felt slightly melancholic for her, as she believed she performed just adequately.
Upon her return to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville – where she is due to graduate in May with a degree in kinesiology – McSharry reassessed her performance in Doha. She granted herself slightly more credit than before, but still remains firmly grounded.
The expectations that cause her distress, she shares, are self-imposed. She explains that participating in the early-season World Championships was meant to be practice in a highly competitive setting, rather than an attempt to earn a medal or break personal records. While she felt disappointment at not achieving ideal results, she insists that having a strong presence at the Championships was more important. Winning a medal would have been a pleasant surprise, but not the ultimate goal.
Upon returning to Tennessee, she quickly found herself competing for her university at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) championships. An unforgettable performance in the 100m breaststroke of a medley relay formed the pinnacle of her contribution, helping her university claim victory. Her record of 55.95 seconds was a phenomenal feat, making her the second female in history to finish this race within 56 seconds.
“I was aware that I needed to take the lead to present my colleagues with a fair chance to compete. The extraordinary ambiance of college races is incredibly motivating when you’re striving to achieve your best time. I value it more than even the Olympics. The crowd’s intense cheering and unwavering belief in you forge an incredibly exciting racing environment and give you an incomparable push. It becomes even more thrilling when you’re achieving all this for your team,” she shared.
In-depth discussions with Ian O’Riordan back in January enlightened her about her complex relationship with swimming. She confessed to moments of despising the sport to the point of contemplating retirement. Such revelations painted a vivid picture of the complicated bond she has maintained with swimming – a bond that has been the string tying together the life of this 23-year-old woman from Sligo since her childhood. To the question of how that relationship stands now, she stated:
“Our relationship has improved. It still requires work and there are without doubt days that are challenging. Like today, for instance, I questioned my choice of being an athlete upon waking up. Yet, I now understand that it’s okay not to be 100% dedicated every day and I’ve stopped being overly self-critical.
“I often reconnect with the reasons why I love swimming and why I continue it. I realise I don’t have the luxury of time on my side anymore. I don’t foresee participating in the sport after four, five or six years. Therefore, I am making the most of the present, appreciating the unique experience of challenging my physical limits that many don’t get the chance to understand. I pay more attention to this aspect, rather than the fear of what lies ahead.”
A turning point for me was when I realised that my love for competition isn’t about amassing medals. Rather, the thrill of competing, the exhilaration of speedily cutting through the water, are what I truly relish. I can’t influence the performance of the other seven competitors in my final; I can only do my best and savour the experience.
Swimming plays a significant role in my life, and I’ve gained immensely from this sport. Not only has it moulded my character, but it’s also a passion I wouldn’t want to grow to resent. Of course, the future without it will seem daunting and melancholic, given my long-term commitment. However, I’m eager for the upcoming phase in my life, regardless of its nature.
I can’t deny the fact that I still have a great deal of dedication for swimming. I keep postponing my retirement plans, whether it’s for another six months or another year, it’s still uncertain. Thinking about the liberty I’ll experience post-retirement does bring a glimmer to my eyes, but I understand eventually I’ll need to embrace regular employment. Yet, this will bring a rejuvenated version of my routine.
In the light of an imminent retirement, the Paris Olympics are just around the corner. With a record like reaching the 100m breaststroke final at only 20 during the previous Tokyo Olympics, I’ve set new targets. However, I’m not obsessed with the upcoming Games.
The thought of the foremost sporting event does make an occasional appearance in my mind, but I’m deliberately avoiding it from consuming my thoughts. Being unduly rigid or allowing it to dominate my headspace without any cost is something I’m striving to avoid. In the meantime, trying not to be overly critical about myself is an ongoing endeavor.
Previous monthly winners include Fionnuala McCormack, known for her achievements in athletics in December.
In the initial weekend of December, McCormack carved out her place in history as she ran within the Olympic marathon qualifying time in Valencia, marking her as the first Irish woman to secure her place in the Games for an unprecedented five consecutive occasions. The subsequent week saw her bagging a hard-fought fourth place for the fifth time in her 18th appearance at the European Cross-Country Championships in Brussels.
Switching to January, Lucy Mulhall from Wicklow, captain of the Irish women’s Sevens, led her team to their inaugural Olympic qualification last May. A milestone was reached in Perth when, under Mulhall’s leadership, they claimed their first-ever World Series gold by defeating the Australian host team. This took them out of a 29-game losing slump against the Australians, with Mulhall chosen as the standout player of the match.
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