SWIMMING: Conor Ferguson smashes Irish junior record

Conor Ferguson twice broke the Irish junior 100m backstroke record on the first day of competition at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Singapore today.
Conor Ferguson in action.  Photograph: Presseye INLT 35-911-CONConor Ferguson in action.  Photograph: Presseye INLT 35-911-CON
Conor Ferguson in action. Photograph: Presseye INLT 35-911-CON

The Larne Swimming Club member, who hails from Jordanstown, progressed from the morning heats to the semi-final in 55.94 seconds, breaking 56 seconds for the first time and knocking .23 of a second off the record of 56.17 that he had set just over a month ago at the Irish Age Group Championships.

Ferguson went on to smash that time clocking 55.60 seconds where he placed eighth in the faster of the two semi-finals, putting him 12th overall.

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Romania’s Robert Glinta set a new Championship Record of 54.56 in the same semi-final to qualify as the fastest seed for tomorrow’s final.

Ferguson, who is 15, will return to the pool for the 50m Backstroke heats on Thursday.

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Ferguson in this week’s Times