Hold onto your swim caps, because John Shortt just made waves at the 2025 European Short Course Championships! While he didn’t crack the top three in the men’s 100m backstroke, his seventh-place finish was anything but ordinary. This 18-year-old Irish phenom, coached by John Szaranek at the Irish National Training Centre in Limerick, smashed his personal best and etched his name into the record books with a scorching 50.10 – a new Irish national record! But here's where it gets controversial: is Shortt the future of Irish swimming, or is he just riding a wave of momentum? Let’s dive deeper.
The championships, held in Lublin, Poland from December 2-7, 2025, showcased the world’s best short-course swimmers. Shortt’s time not only eclipsed his previous best of 50.78 from the Munster Short Course Championships but also surpassed Shane Ryan’s 2020 record of 50.17. And this is the part most people miss: Shortt’s split times reveal a strategic race plan. He turned at the 50-meter mark in 24.31, slightly faster than his semifinal split of 24.48, and closed with a 25.79, just shy of his semifinal finish of 25.68. This tactical approach underscores his growing maturity as a competitor.
Globally, Shortt’s performance ranks him 15th in the 2025-2026 SCM Men’s 100 Back rankings, rubbing shoulders with swimming giants like Kliment Kolesnikov and Thomas Ceccon. But Shortt isn’t just a one-event wonder. Earlier in the week, he stunned the swimming world by claiming gold in the 200m backstroke, setting a World Junior Record of 1:47.89. That swim also secured him new Irish, European Junior, and Championship Records. Talk about making a splash!
Looking ahead, Shortt’s final event in Lublin is the 50m backstroke, where he enters as the 40th seed with a time of 25.06. While this may seem modest, his personal best of 23.70 in the SCM pool suggests he could surprise everyone. Shane Ryan’s Irish Record of 22.56 from the 2022 World Championships looms large, but Shortt’s rapid progression hints that no record is safe.
Shortt’s breakout moment came at the World Junior Championships in August, where he claimed gold in the 200m backstroke (1:56.19), gold in the 100m backstroke (53.86), and bronze in the 50m backstroke (25.06). Just a month earlier, he competed at the senior World Championships, finishing 26th in the 100m backstroke (54.26) and 15th in the 200m backstroke (1:57.30). He also contributed to Ireland’s 4×200 free relay and 4×100 medley relay teams, showcasing his versatility.
Shortt’s consistency on the international stage is undeniable. At the 2024 Doha World Championships, he placed 24th in the 200m backstroke (1:58.47), and at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, he finished 22nd in the same event (1:59.79). On the European junior circuit, he’s a force to be reckoned with, having won gold in the 200m backstroke (1:57.68) and silver in the 100m backstroke (54.74) at the 2024 European Junior Championships. This year, he upgraded to gold in the 100m backstroke (54.09) but settled for bronze in the 200m backstroke (1:58.45).
So, is John Shortt the next big thing in swimming? Or is his success a fleeting moment in a competitive sport? One thing’s for sure: his performances are turning heads and sparking debates. What do you think? Is Shortt destined for greatness, or is he just another rising star in a sea of talent? Let us know in the comments below!
