In a world where the headlines too often bring grief or gloom, it’s not just refreshing—it’s deeply healing—to celebrate the triumph of one of our own. This week, Roscam’s John Shortt returned home to Galway not just as a young man who sat his Leaving Cert, but as a triple medalist and double world champion at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Romania. And what a homecoming it was.
Bonfires lit the sky at his sporting alma mater Corinthians Rugby Club, flags waved, and neighbours gathered not just as spectators, but as something more intimate—as a family. Because when someone from your parish, your school, your county rises onto the world stage, it doesn’t feel like watching a stranger’s success. It feels like watching a nephew or cousin. It is the opposite of the isolation that tragedy brings. It is unity in celebration. And that is the magic of sport.
18-year-old John has become a beacon of Irish swimming, claiming gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, and bronze in the 50m. Alone, he placed Ireland ninth in the medal table—ahead of swimming giants like Australia, Germany, and Canada. He is only the second Irish swimmer in history to win a World Junior title, following in the strokes of Mona McSharry.
That would be achievement enough for most. But John also achieved something else this week: he secured a place at the University of Limerick to study sports science, after juggling Olympic-level training with his Leaving Cert. On the day of his 50m final, his mother texted him with the news: “UL is secured. Go out and race hard tonight.” He did exactly that—bringing home a bronze medal, mere hours after receiving the news.
In that moment, John wasn’t just racing for a podium finish. He was racing for every young Irish athlete wondering if it is possible to chase both excellence and education. He was racing for the mentors and coaches who invest in potential before medals appear. And he was racing for a village—his village, his people—who raised him with belief.
His path wasn’t carved by legacy or family tradition in swimming. In fact, rugby was his first love, and he credits it with teaching him leadership—something he carries into the pool today. At age 16, John made the bold move from Roscam to Limerick, enrolling in Castletroy College and joining Swim Ireland’s High Performance Centre. It meant early mornings, long days, and sacrifice. But he showed what belief, hard work, and the right support can yield.
His coach, John Szaranek, deserves immense credit—along with the whole team at UL—guiding a young talent with world-class strategy and care. Shortt’s execution in the pool was not just dominant, it was elegant. In the 200m backstroke final, he broke his own Irish junior and senior record, finishing in 1:56.19 and leading from start to wall. It was swimming at its most poetic.
But what stands out even more than the records or medals is the way John carries himself. His gratitude. His groundedness. His awareness of the moment. He’s not swept up by hype, but lifted by purpose.
Galway is proud. Ireland is proud. And more than that—we are uplifted. Because in times like these, when good news feels rare and precious, John Shortt’s success isn’t just his own. It belongs to the coach who saw promise early, the parents who drove the miles, the teachers who gave flexibility, and every young swimmer who now believes more is possible.
This is what sport gives us. A chance to feel like a part of something bigger. When one of us wins, we all get to bask in that golden glow. It takes a village to raise a child—and when that child achieves something extraordinary, the village feels the joy too.
We are all the aunts, the uncles, the neighbours, the strangers with watery eyes. We are all part of the celebration. And in John Shortt’s homecoming, we found something we all needed—a reason to cheer, and a young man who reminded us what’s possible in a world where hope is often in short supply.
Well done, John...
