What a weekend that was for Irish Athletics. The brilliant u18 girls team are returning home with three gold medals and a silver, topping the medal table in the process at the European Athletics u18 Championships in Hungary.
With the Under-18 European Championships having wrapped up this weekend, Ireland's young athletes have shown a great level of potential and give a bright reality to the future of Irish athletics.
Sarah Healy had a spectacular performance for Ireland, winning two gold medals and breaking records all around her in the 3,000m and 1,500m races! Check out her phenomenal run here:
Sarah Healy has ruled the distance events at the European U18 Championships!
Two days after winning the 3000m title in a championship record, the Irishwoman does the same to win the 1500m title in Gyor.
Ireland's third gold medal of the championships! pic.twitter.com/si9l0NQqMO
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 8, 2018
Rhasidat Adeleke also secured gold in the 200m final. The 15 year old finished with a time of 23.53 saying, "I can't believe it, it's surreal, I'm lost for words. I knew I could go fast, but not that fast. To come out with the gold is crazy."
Sophie O’Sullivan, daughter of legendary Irish athlete Sonia O’Sullivan, added to the successes with a silver in the 800m where she was presented a medal by her mother.
Sophie’s success lies outside Europe too as a former under 18 Australian champion. She said, "I just wanted to get to the final, but once I was here I wanted to do the best I could, there's always that bit more you can put in so you just have to push all the way."
As a dual-citizen of Ireland and Australia, Sophie will have to choose what country she wishes to represent in the coming years.
Sonia also talked about young athletes focussing on achievements and advised them to worry about improving at younger ages and said, contrary to what her daughter believed, not to worry about winning at the cost of pushing themselves too hard.
One of the proudest parents in Gyor!
Sonia O'Sullivan's daughter Sophie won a silver medal in the 800m at the European U18 Championships last night.
Listen to her thoughts after last night's 800m final. pic.twitter.com/dnDP5KNN2O
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 8, 2018
Watch Sonia O’Sullivan cheer on her daughter as she runs a PB and gets silver here:
Think being an athlete is nerve-wracking? Being the parent of an athlete is even more nerve-wracking!
Watch Sonia O'Sullivan live every moment of Sophie's silver medal-winning run in the 800m final at the European U18 Championships last night! pic.twitter.com/v7mwL52NKH
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 8, 2018
Eoin Sheahan, Tipperary star Michael Quinlivan and former Meath captain Anthony Moyles were on OTB AM this morning to chat about the weekend’s sport - watch the full show back here:
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