LIMERICK swimmer Fiona Doyle admits qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games is a dream come true.
The 23-year-old secured her spot in Rio next summer with an ‘A’ qualification time set in Sunday’s 100m breaststroke semi-final at the World University Games.
Doyle went on to claim a bronze medal in the final on Monday, setting a personal best which was also an Irish senior record, but the Raheen swimmer puts Olympic qualification at the top of her achievements.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet that I actually got the qualifying time, but it’s a really good feeling,” she told The Irish Post.
“It’s always fantastic getting on the podium but I would have to say qualifying for the Olympics [was a greater achievement] because it’s been a dream of mine since I was 12 years old.”
Doyle can now enter the World Championships with peace of mind, knowing her spot in next summer’s games is already assured.
She added: “I came into this [World University Games] knowing that if all goes well I should actually get the time, but at the same time there is always that weight on the back of your mind.
“When I got the time, I was like ‘oh’, and it felt like a weight I didn’t even realise was there had been lifted. The goal is to improve on it and see what happens in the worlds.”
Here's the cheeky selfie from the podium :) #wugs2015 #Gwangju2015 @swimireland @RTEsport #Winning #swimming pic.twitter.com/Vp4Kr1Uw9V
— Fiona Doyle (@Fionamdoyle) July 6, 2015
