(Keith Hartnett Photo/Dublin, Ireland)
Dreaming of competing in the Olympics is something numerous athletes do but Centre College freshman swimmer Tiernan Moore of Woodford County has found a way to pursue to potentially turn that into a reality.
He recently competed at the 2025 Irish Open Championships in Dublin, Ireland in the 100-meter breaststroke and finished fourth overall in 1 minute, 3.47 seconds.
Moore lived in Ireland until he was 4 years old when his family moved to Woodford County where his mother’s family lived. His mother met his father when she was teaching in Ireland and the Centre freshman has dual Irish and American citizenship
“Since I had dual citizenship, I wondered if I could compete internationally,” Moore said. “I reached out to the organization in Ireland and they said I could register under a club team and come swim. I reached out to a club asking if they might host an international swimmer and they said they did it all the time. That’s how I got the process started to where I could go compete.”
Moore’s father accompanied him to Ireland where the Centre swimmer made a “good connection” with the Irish coach but had to adjust from swimming in a 25-yard pool compared to the international pools that are 50 meters.
“I hadn’t raced in a long course school for about a year or so. I was a little nervous going over because I didn’t have much experience in the long course pool,” he said.
Moore got to Ireland five days before the competition to make sure he adjusted to jet lag and trained with a team in Cork, Ireland. Ironically, he trained in the same pool in Cork his father swam in as a youngster when he lived in Cork.
“I didn’t just jump straight into the meet not knowing anyone. I got to know some people and kind of established a little bit of a community in Cork,” he said.
Moore felt he did well in the meet to finish fourth. His time also ranked him 15th in the U.S. in his event.
“I was pretty excited about my times,” he said. “My whole reason for going over there was to get my toes in the water and get used to what this is like to put my name out there. I was just barely off the cut I needed to be considered for the (Irish) national team.
“I was grateful for the experience. I am going over again in the summer for the summer national meet and hopefully get my cut (time) for the national team.”
He also got to meet with some family members he hadn’t talked to in years. Another highlight was that he got to see some of the Irish Olympic swimmers, including gold medalist Daniel Wiffen warming up in the lane next to him.
“I was like, ‘That guy is an Olympian and I am warming up with him,’” Moore said.
Moore appreciated his Centre college professors helping him arrange his academic schedule so he could compete in Ireland.
“The dean said he supported me and he connected with my professors to see if they could make it work. I talked to all my professors and they all said they could make it work,” Moore said. “I’ve never had been shown so much love and appreciation before from an academic body. It made me feel so grateful.”
Moore had a terrific freshman season at Centre. He broke his brother Xavier’s school record in the 100-yard breaststroke . He was the only male swimmer from the Southern Athletic Association to compete in the Division III NCAA Championships after qualifying in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley.
“I do set pretty high standards for myself, but honestly, I was really happy with how the season went. I’m super thankful to coach Dean (Brownley) and the support he’s shown me,” Moore said. “Obviously the new facility we have has been super helpful with our training.”
It was also helpful having his brother Xavier Moore, a sophomore, and twin sister, Lillian at Centre and both on the swim team.
“Normally you move off to college and kind of lose that family connection and are by yourself. Being here with two siblings is awesome,” Moore said. “My brother is going to Ireland with me in the summer. My sister really hasn’t expressed any interest in doing it so far.”
His sister actually stopped swimming in high school before deciding to restart her swimming career at Centre.
“It’s not like she doesn’t have the drive. She had tremendous times this year and if she keeps it up she’s going to be a really good swimmer here,” Moore said. “She’s coming off not training for four years but she still has that competitiveness and swimming here is perfect for her because it is a little more laid back. I am proud of what she has done and hope she keeps it up. She’s still thinking about not swimming next year, but over the summer my brother and I are going to try to get her to train with us just to get back in this swing of things.”
Moore doesn’t need any extra motivation to train this summer. He came back from Ireland “inspired” to get better.
“I have never been more pumped up to just go to work,” Moore said. “My brother and I have talked to our club coach back home and have a training plan figured out to build up for the meet in July (in Ireland).”
He’s been swimming since he was 7 years old and his mother has a photo of him when he was young being asked what he wanted to be when he grew up and his answer was Olympic swimmer.
“I love swimming so much. It’s brought me so much joy in my life. Everything revolves around swimming. People get burnt out and that has happened to me. I’ve taken seasons off but every time I do that, I miss being in the water,” Moore said. “Now I have a chance to do something really special with the Irish national team and I am going to do everything possible to give myself the best chance to succeed.”
