Euro Silver and Bronze for McConnell

Erin McConnell has won double medals at the European Aquathlon Championships in Walchsee, Austria.

The result is the best from McConnell’s elite career so far. She crossed the line in third place behind Italian Bianca Seregni and Ivana Kuriackova from Slovakia.

McConnell was second out of the water, two seconds behind eventual winner Seregni. She said once on the run she went as hard as she could and despite suffering a stitch in the second to last kilometre she held off a glut of fast running competitors to cross the line third, taking the Elite bronze medal and the silver U23 position.

Maeve Gallagher finished in 9th place in the same race with Chloe Pollard not far behind in 12th.

I’m So Happy with Myself

Speaking after the medal ceremony, a visibly delighted McConnell said the result meant everything to her:

“To come here and get two medals – elite and U23, it means everytjing to me and not only just to me, but not just to me, to my teammates and my mum and my dad at home and my coaches at home as well. I get a bit emotional because it’s the hard work that pays off today. I’m so happy with myself and I’m thankful to everybody.”

See the full results from the European Aquathlon Champs at Walchsee, Austria