Former Tennessee swimming star Mona McSharry wins bronze in 100 breaststroke at Paris Olympics

Former Tennessee swimmer Mona McSharry of Ireland won a bronze medal in the women's 100-meter breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday. McSharry, a three-time NCAA silver medalist, finished in 1 minute, 05.59 seconds.

Tatjana Smith of South Africa won gold in 1:05.28. Tang Qianting of China was second for sliver in 1:05.54.

American star Lilly King was fourth in 1:05:60, beating McSharry for the podium by .01.

"Can't really ask for anything more than winning a medal at the Olympics," the 23-year-old McSharry told BBC Sport .

"I'm not even sure that was really something that little me dreaming of going to the Olympics thought was possible," she added. "I've kept pushing and that's what I've been training for all year, to be top three and dreams do come true."

McSharry finished with the second best time in Sunday's 100 semifinals in 1:05.51, a personal best and broke the Irish national record she held.

It was Ireland's first medal in swimming since the Atlanta Games in 1996.

McSharry became just the Lady Vols swimmer to win an Olympic medal in an individual event, joining Christine Magnuson's silver medal performance for the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

What to know about Mona McSharry

McSharry swam for Tennessee from 2020-24. She holds the Tennessee record for the fastest times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In 2021, she was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Year.

McSharry placed eighth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 100 breaststroke and 20th in the 200 breaststroke, where she became the first Irish swimmer since Michelle de Bruin to make an Olympic final.

She holds six Irish national records and four Tennessee records.

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She will compete in the 200 breaststroke semifinal on Wednesday and will qualify for the final if she places in the top eight.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Tennessee swimming star Mona McSharry wins bronze in 100 breaststroke at Paris Olympics