University of Tennessee Athletics
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Recapping Tennessee Swimming’s Successful Olympic Run
August 05, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
PARIS – Tennessee swimmers saw their dreams come true, enjoyed success at the highest level and represented their countries and UT on the grandest stage during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Before the Summer Games even kicked off, the Big Orange was already riding high thanks to a program-record 17 Vols and Lady Vols qualifying to compete. From there, UT swimmers won a pair of medals, broke five national records and advanced to seven finals.
In total, Tennessee swimmers and divers have competed in every Olympiad since 1972 (14 consecutive), representing a total of 23 different countries. With its success this year, the Big Orange now boasts 17 Olympic medals all time between its men's and women's programs.
After winning silver in the 4x100 medley relay and bronze in the 4x100 free relay during the 2020 Tokyo Games, Tennessee's Erika Connolly kicked off the competition by becoming the first Lady Vol swimmer ever to win three Olympic medals and joined Melvin Stewart as the only swimmers in Tennessee history to achieve the feat. She won silver in the 4x100 free relay after swimming prelims in the event for the Red, White and Blue.
Mona McSharry made history for Ireland when she brought home the bronze in the 100 breast. Her performance marked the first-ever medal in a breaststroke event for Ireland at the Summer Games, and she became just the second Irish swimmer ever to win an Olympic medal. Her effort also marked just the second Lady Vol swimmer ever to win an individual medal at the Summer Games, joining Christine Magnuson's silver medal performance for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
During the semifinals, McSharry posted a time of 1:05.51 to break the Irish national record in the event. She also went on to place 11th in the 200 breast later in the competition.
Also competing for Ireland, Ellen Walshe swam in three individual events as well as a relay throughout the meet. Her top performance came in the 400 IM, where she finished eighth overall. She also notched a 13th-place finish in the 200 IM and took 22nd in the 100 fly. McSharry and Walshe teamed up to help take down the Irish 4x100 medley relay national record, posting a time of 4:00.12 to place 11th.
After winning bronze at the 2024 Doha World Championships in February, Austria's Martin Espernberger continued his hot year in the 200 fly. He broke the national record in the event during finals, clocking a 1:54.17 effort to take sixth.
Three current Vols enjoyed success in the sprint freestyles. Jordan Crooks made Cayman Islands history when he became the first swimmer ever from the country to advance to an Olympic final, placing eighth overall in the 50 free—an event he broke the national record in during prelims. In the 100 free, Crooks and Gui Caribe of Brazil both advanced to the semifinals, while Lamar Taylor broke the Bahamian national record in the event. Caribe placed 10th after throwing down a personal-best time of 48.03, while Crooks took 13th.
Competing in her third Olympic Games, Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands helped the Dutch 4x100 mixed medley relay earn a sixth-place finish. She also took 14th in the 100 back.
Medals Won (2)
Silver – Erika Connolly (USA) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
Bronze – Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 100 Breast
National Records (5)
Austria – Martin Espernberger – 200 Fly (1:54.17)
Bahamas – Lamar Taylor – 100 Free (48.84)
Cayman Islands – Jordan Crooks – 50 Free (21.51)
Ireland – Mona McSharry – 100 Breast (1:05.51)
Ireland – Mona McSharry & Ellen Walshe – 4x100 Medley Relay (4:00.12)
Top-8 Finishes (7)
2nd – Erika Connolly (USA) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
3rd – Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 100 Breast
4th – Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
6th – Martin Espernberger (Austria) – 200 Fly
6th – Kira Toussaint (Netherlands) – 4x100 Mixed Medley Relay
8th – Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) – 50 Free
8th – Ellen Walshe (Ireland) – 400 IM
Before the Summer Games even kicked off, the Big Orange was already riding high thanks to a program-record 17 Vols and Lady Vols qualifying to compete. From there, UT swimmers won a pair of medals, broke five national records and advanced to seven finals.
In total, Tennessee swimmers and divers have competed in every Olympiad since 1972 (14 consecutive), representing a total of 23 different countries. With its success this year, the Big Orange now boasts 17 Olympic medals all time between its men's and women's programs.
After winning silver in the 4x100 medley relay and bronze in the 4x100 free relay during the 2020 Tokyo Games, Tennessee's Erika Connolly kicked off the competition by becoming the first Lady Vol swimmer ever to win three Olympic medals and joined Melvin Stewart as the only swimmers in Tennessee history to achieve the feat. She won silver in the 4x100 free relay after swimming prelims in the event for the Red, White and Blue.
Mona McSharry made history for Ireland when she brought home the bronze in the 100 breast. Her performance marked the first-ever medal in a breaststroke event for Ireland at the Summer Games, and she became just the second Irish swimmer ever to win an Olympic medal. Her effort also marked just the second Lady Vol swimmer ever to win an individual medal at the Summer Games, joining Christine Magnuson's silver medal performance for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
During the semifinals, McSharry posted a time of 1:05.51 to break the Irish national record in the event. She also went on to place 11th in the 200 breast later in the competition.
Also competing for Ireland, Ellen Walshe swam in three individual events as well as a relay throughout the meet. Her top performance came in the 400 IM, where she finished eighth overall. She also notched a 13th-place finish in the 200 IM and took 22nd in the 100 fly. McSharry and Walshe teamed up to help take down the Irish 4x100 medley relay national record, posting a time of 4:00.12 to place 11th.
After winning bronze at the 2024 Doha World Championships in February, Austria's Martin Espernberger continued his hot year in the 200 fly. He broke the national record in the event during finals, clocking a 1:54.17 effort to take sixth.
Three current Vols enjoyed success in the sprint freestyles. Jordan Crooks made Cayman Islands history when he became the first swimmer ever from the country to advance to an Olympic final, placing eighth overall in the 50 free—an event he broke the national record in during prelims. In the 100 free, Crooks and Gui Caribe of Brazil both advanced to the semifinals, while Lamar Taylor broke the Bahamian national record in the event. Caribe placed 10th after throwing down a personal-best time of 48.03, while Crooks took 13th.
Competing in her third Olympic Games, Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands helped the Dutch 4x100 mixed medley relay earn a sixth-place finish. She also took 14th in the 100 back.
Medals Won (2)
Silver – Erika Connolly (USA) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
Bronze – Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 100 Breast
National Records (5)
Austria – Martin Espernberger – 200 Fly (1:54.17)
Bahamas – Lamar Taylor – 100 Free (48.84)
Cayman Islands – Jordan Crooks – 50 Free (21.51)
Ireland – Mona McSharry – 100 Breast (1:05.51)
Ireland – Mona McSharry & Ellen Walshe – 4x100 Medley Relay (4:00.12)
Top-8 Finishes (7)
2nd – Erika Connolly (USA) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
3rd – Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 100 Breast
4th – Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada) – 4x100 Free Relay (Swam Prelims)
6th – Martin Espernberger (Austria) – 200 Fly
6th – Kira Toussaint (Netherlands) – 4x100 Mixed Medley Relay
8th – Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) – 50 Free
8th – Ellen Walshe (Ireland) – 400 IM
Players Mentioned
Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
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