Ireland’s Shane Ryan Ready to Test Sprint Speed at World Championships
When the World Championships in Singapore begin later this month, the 50-meter stroke events will hold greater prestige than ever. While the one-lap dashes have been part of the World Champs program since 2001, having debuted in Fukuoka, they have never been part of the Olympic slate. That absence will change in three years, thanks to the International Olympic Committee’s announcement that the 50 sprints will be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Count Shane Ryan as a beneficiary of the decision.
A three-time Olympian for Ireland, Ryan has developed into one of the sport’s premier sprinters, ranking among the world’s elite in the 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke and 50 butterfly. Although the early days of his career consisted of racing 100-meter distances, injury and adaptability have guided him toward the one-way nature of the 50s. The events, and the timing of their Olympic inclusion, are a perfect fit for the 31-year-old.
Born in the United States, Ryan shifted his training and international representation to Ireland, where his father was born, after the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. In the time since, he has qualified for three Olympic Games and can be considered the catalyst for Ireland’s ability to develop more elite international athletes than ever before.
Although Ryan has been working through some shoulder issues, he plans on racing the 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke at Worlds. The original plan also included the 50 freestyle, but Ryan’s shoulder woes have taken that event off the plate. He views the 50 fly as his best opportunity of the summer.
“The goal at Worlds is to go all-in on that 50 fly,” Ryan told Swimming World. “I’ve been focusing on the 50 fly at the moment because it’s a lot easier on my shoulders. I’ve got strong legs for the fly kick and I’m trying to focus on that. I need funding and I need to place (in the) top-16.”
Ryan heads to his latest World Championships with a personal best of 24.32 in the 50 backstroke, where he was the European bronze medalist in 2018 and twice has been the bronze medalist at the World Short Course Champs, including last year. The 50 fly, though, has been more of a recent surge, with Ryan clocking the fastest time of his career, a 23.10, earlier this season.
After the World Champs, Ryan will continue to represent Ireland, but his training base will shift to Charlotte and the coaching of Jeff Dugale, the head coach at Queens University, and Elliot Ptasnik, the Associate Head Coach. With training for the 50 strokes providing greater flexibility in his schedule, Ryan is looking to complement his pool work with a job that will prepare him for his post-swimming career. As the Los Angeles Games creep closer, Ryan said he’ll amp up the focus on what will be his last Olympic pursuit.
“Adding in the 50s is a huge thing, especially for us older swimmers,” Ryan said of the Olympics’ expansion. “With the 50s, you’re going see a different breed of swimmer and different styles of training.”
