Wiffen twins lead the Irish charge in Romania

Twins Daniel and Nathan Wiffen eased into the men's 1500m freestyle final at the European Short Course Championships on a day of success for Irish swimmers in Romania.

The Wiffens were two of five Irish swimmers who progressed from this morning's heats to reach finals and semi-finals.

Daniel, who won Ireland's first ever European Short Course Gold medal on Monday evening in the 400m freestyle, touched in 14:34.50, conserving his energy for the final as the 22-year-old finished well behind his best time of 14:14.45 in the event.

Nathan came home in a time 14:39.34, knocking a massive nine seconds off his previous best of 14:48.69.

Speaking after the race Daniel said: "My goal there was just to try and make it as easy as possible after last night and the toll it would have had on me, so as easy as possible to make it back and I'm happy to be first and in lane four for the final."

Last night's bronze medallist in the 400m individual medley, Ellen Walshe, was also back in action this morning in the 100m version of the event. Walshe clocked 1:00.20 to progress to this evening’s semi-final in tenth place overall.

Maria Godden, the first Irish swimmer in action this morning, made her European Short Course Championships debut in the 200m backstroke heats.

The National Centre Limerick swimmer was third in her heat in a personal best time of 2:07.10 and advances to the semi-final in twelfth place.

In the men’s 50m freestyle, Tom Fannon was the best of three Irish swimmers and confirmed his semi-final place in 21.56.

Fannon holds the Irish long course [50 metres] record in the event and will be aiming to break the short course record of 21.35 in this evening’s semi-final.

"It’s good," said Fannon afterwards. "My first semi-final for Ireland