John Shortt (swimmer)
 John Shortt (IRL) competing at the World Aquatics Junior championships in 2025. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality |  Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 February 2007 Galway, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Backstroke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | National Centre Limerick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | John Szaranek | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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John Shortt (born 7 February 2007) is an Irish competitive swimmer specialising in backstroke. He is a double gold medallist at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships and holds multiple Irish national records.[1][2]
Career
Shortt began swimming with Bluefin Swimming Club in Kilcornan, Clarinbridge, before joining the National Centre Limerick.[3] He first gained international recognition at the 2024 European Junior Swimming Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he won gold in the 200 m backstroke (1:57.68) and silver in the 100 m backstroke (54.74).
In 2025, Shortt competed at the senior World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, finishing 15th in the 200 m backstroke (1:57.30) and 26th in the 100 m backstroke (54.26).
At the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, Shortt had a breakout performance, winning the 100-metre/200-metre backstroke double, along with the bronze medal in the 50-metre backstroke.:[4][5][6]
- Gold, 100 m backstroke: 53.86 seconds;
- Gold, 200 m backstroke: 1:56.19, setting both a new Irish senior and junior record
- Bronze, 50 m backstroke: 25.06 seconds
He became only the second Irish swimmer to win a World Junior title, following Mona McSharry in 2017.
Personal bests
| Event | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m backstroke | 25.01 | 20 March 2026 | Paris, France |
| 100 m backstroke | 53.17 NR | 9 April 2026 | Bangor, Ireland |
| 200 m backstroke | 1:55.31 NR | 11 August 2026 | Paris, France |
Personal life
Shortt was born in Galway and attended Calasanctius College.
References
- ↑ "Shortt strikes gold in 100m backstroke at World Juniors". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "18-Year-Old John Shortt Fires Off 1:56.19 200 Backstroke Irish Record". SwimSwam. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "John Shortt – World Aquatics Profile". World Aquatics. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "Shortt is crowned World Junior 100m backstroke champion in Romania". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "John Shortt wins 50m Backstroke bronze at World Championships". The42.ie. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "'So much pride getting up on the podium' – John Shortt celebrates winning World gold". MSN News. Retrieved 24 August 2025.