Danielle Hill earns Olympic consideration time

Danielle Hill has earned her first Olympic Consideration Time at the Swim Ireland Performance Meet when setting a new Irish Senior Record of 1:00.18 in the 100m Backstroke Final.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jun 2021, 17:47 BST
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Hill, coached by Peter Hill at Larne Swimming Club, needed to meet or swim faster than the FINA ‘A’ time of 1:00.25 to earn an Olympic consideration for Tokyo 2020 and had hit 1:00.34 at the Irish National Team Trials in April, lowering her own Irish Senior Record at the time.

Powering through the final 50m at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre on Thursday, the 22-year-old from Carnmoney bettered that time again, setting potentially the most important Irish Senior Record of her career.

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She said: “Anyone who knows me, knows I am not an emotional person. I don’t show emotion often, so these tears are real, and it wasn’t just about me tonight, that was for the whole Larne team.

Danielle Hill. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Andrea StaccioliDanielle Hill. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Andrea Staccioli
Danielle Hill. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Andrea Staccioli

“They have had the toughest 12 months, and when we joined back in with them, they treated Conor (Ferguson) and I like we were normal, and it was so nice to be around them again. That was most definitely for those guys.”

She added: “I’m so relieved, and so happy. I know there is a faster time in there, but it still did the job.”

As well as 100m Backstroke, Hill also owns the 50m and 100m Freestyle Irish Senior Records and 50m Backstroke. Her time of 25.19 in 50m Freestyle makes her Ireland’s fastest ever female swimmer.

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Click here to read Belfast Lough Swim: Intrepid eight to take challenge from Grey Point to Carrick

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