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Ellen Walshe produced a brilliant performance to win gold in the women's 400 metres individual medley at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. Walshe clawed back a deficit to come out on top in a time of 4:34.42. Great Britain's Amalie Smith was second, with Poland's Justina Anna Kozan securing bronze. After her big win, a delighted - and exhausted Walshe - told RTÉ Sport: "I don't think it's fully hit. I just worked so hard at the end. "I was delighted to see my hand on the wall first but I couldn't even turn around, I was just so dead! "I tried to stick with what I knew. Eventually I hope I can out a bit faster and build a little bit more but on the backstroke my legs were really hurting and on the breaststroke I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. "In the freestyle it's anyone's game. "It's my first long-course senior medal, that's huge to get the gold. I'm looking forward to standing on the podium tonight." 'I was delighted to see my hand on the wall first' - Ellen Walshe on the moment she realised gold was hers in the Women's 400m individual medley #rtesport #EuropeanAquatics pic.twitter.com/KuutWB12VF — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026 Earlier Mona McSharry has won a silver medal in the women's 100m breaststroke. McSharry clocked a time of 1:05.41 to secure the podium finish and add to the Olympic bronze medal she won in the French capital in 2024. Angharad Evans of Great Britain took gold in 1:04.87, a new Championship record. Italy's Benedetta Pilato took bronze. The Sligo woman told RTÉ Sport: "It's amazing, I honestly don't know if it's really hit me yet. "I think it was just like touching the wall and it just feels like I did another really good race. But I don't think it's sunk in yet that I'm going to on the podium. "Pilato beside me probably touched first because she looked a bit ahead of me. I was like 'I know she goes out fast, but we got to go'. "I think again, just kind of trusting the process and adjusting from yesterday, paid off." Revealing her feelings after receiving her medal, she added: "It was just great "It was kind of the same as in Paris, looking around, seeing all the Irish flags. "It's just so great to be on the podium with some great women and really fast swimming is exciting." McSharry revealed that the event being in France has allowed many of her nearest and dearest to watch on: "I actually got coffee with my family today, so I've got family here. "Grace, my old coach is here, my friends are here. It is nice to have competition so close to home and I appreciate that they take advantage of coming over to watch as well" Daniel Wiffin missed out on a medal in the men's 800m freestyle final, coming home fourth in a season's best 7:43.30. Wiffen, however, was keen to lean on the positive after his race. "I'm actually really happy with that, I was able to faster again, which is really good for me," he told RTÉ Sport. "This season's obviously not been the best, but another season's best from the heats, very happy. "Coming into this week, I didn't even think I was goiong to get in the final in the 800, it's always been the 1500 that's been my focus. Daniel Wiffen focusing on the positives after finishing fourth in the Men's 800m freestyle final #rtesport #EuropeanAquatics pic.twitter.com/ybHELLZMMX — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026 "Finish fourth, five seconds faster than Commies a couple of weeks ago, so over the moon to be honest. "I'm so happy being back in Ireland. This is my 13th week being back and I've dropped 15 seconds in 13 weeks, so pretty happy. "We've just seen tow medals - I got to watch Ellen's in the forum - really good stuff. It's building, I mean if you look at this competition four years ago, we got no medals. "Now we're getting every single medal, it's great to see." Galway's John Shortt was also in action in the men's 200m backstroke final earlier in the evening and finished in seventh place, at a time of 1:55.86.