Get ready to be amazed because the world of swimming just witnessed a record-shattering moment! John Shortt, Ireland's rising star, has sliced nearly a full second off his own national record in the 200m backstroke, leaving everyone in awe at the 2025 European Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland. But here's where it gets even more thrilling: this 18-year-old phenom isn't just breaking records—he's rewriting his own history in the pool.
The championships, running from December 2-7, 2025, kicked off with a bang during the men’s 200m backstroke heats on day one. Shortt, alongside Spain's Hugo Gonzalez, secured the 4th seed with a jaw-dropping time of 1:50.65. To put this in perspective, Shortt's previous Irish record stood at 1:51.60, set during the heats at last year’s Short Course World Championships. But this time, he didn’t just improve—he dominated, shaving off nearly a second by strategically conserving energy in the latter half of the race. His splits reveal a masterclass in pacing, dipping under 14 seconds in three of the final four lengths.
And this is the part most people miss: Shortt’s performance isn’t an isolated miracle. It’s the culmination of a breakthrough year that saw him sweep the 100m and 200m backstroke golds at the World Junior Championships in Romania, along with a bronze in the 50m backstroke. Is this the beginning of a new era for Irish swimming? Or is Shortt just scratching the surface of his potential?
But here’s where it gets controversial: despite his record-breaking swim, Shortt still faces stiff competition in tonight’s semi-finals. French powerhouse Mewen Tomac and British Olympic medalist Luke Greenbank are ranked above him, and other contenders like Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Jan Cejka, and Jack Skerry are lurking in the shadows. Can Shortt hold his ground against these swimming giants, or will the pressure of the semi-finals prove too much?
Here’s a breakdown of the top 16 swimmers from the heats, with Shortt’s new record in bold:
- Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 1:50.19
- Luke Greenbank (GBR) – 1:50.39
- Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 1:50.41
- Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) & John Shortt (IRL) – 1:50.65
- Jan Cejka (CZE) – 1:51.06
- Ivan Martinezz Sota (ESP) – 1:51.08
- Apostolos Siskos (GRE) – 1:51.25
- Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 1:51.52
- Jack Skerry (GBR) – 1:51.56
- Aukan Goldin (ISR) – 1:52.04
- Tudor-Andrei Iordache (ROU) – 1:53.00
- Benedek Kovacs (HUN) – 1:53.18
- Daren Kirilov (BUL) – 1:53.22
- Christian Bacico (ITA) – 1:53.41
- Flavio Bucca (SUI) – 1:53.72
For context, here’s how Shortt’s new record stacks up against the world’s best:
- World Record (WR): 1:45.12 – Hubert Kos (HUN), 2025
- World Junior Record (WJR): 1:48.02 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
- European Record (ER): 1:45.12 – Hubert Kos (HUN), 2025
- European Junior Record (EJR): 1:48.02 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
- Championship Record (CR): 1:48.02 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
So, what do you think? Is John Shortt the future of backstroke, or is he just another rising star in a sea of talent? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to catch the action live via the links provided. This is one championship you won’t want to miss!
