Huge ‘back to school’ welcome for Sharlene
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Sharlene Mawdsley showing her Gold and Silver medals to Grace Kelly (5) with Miriam Foley, Principal, Newport Convent Primary School.Image 2 of 6
The scene at Newport Convent Primary School during the visit by Sharlene Mawdsley.Image 3 of 6
Rolling back the years - Miriam Foley, Principal, showing Sharlene Mawdsley her attendance record at the school as a junior.Image 4 of 6
Nell McGrath showing Sharlene the project she completed on Sharlene’s athletic career.Image 5 of 6
Former Chairman of Newport AC, Rev Fr Bobby Fletcher, PP, New Inn, admiring Sharlene Mawdsley’s Gold and Silver European Championship medals.Image 6 of 6
Sharlene with her former teachers at the school, Miriam Foley, Kate O’Regan, Leslie Doode, and Caitriona Sadlier.Precious Gold and Silver medals glistened in the June morning sunshine as a most distinguished past pupil returned to her primary school roots.
There was a tumultuous welcome from teachers and pupils for international athlete Sharlene Mawdsley, as she stepped back in time to revisit the classrooms of her earliest education at the Convent Girls Primary School, Newport. Wearing her Gold and Silver European Championship medals, she was met on arrival by Miriam Foley, Principal, and Grace Kelly (5) one of the youngest pupils at the school, who smiled as she admired the medals.
Sharlene had availed of a few days return visit to her home at Newport to meet the teachers and pupils of the primary school, which she had attended from infant classes to her advance to second level. Miriam Foley, Principal, recalled her early days attending the school, her academic intellect, and the year that “she never missed a day”, showing her the enrolment record on the school roll book.
She was greeted too, and warmly congratulated on her continued success on becoming one of the top athletes in the world, by Rev Fr Bobby Fletcher, PP, New Inn, former pastor of the parish, who was Chairman of Newport Athletic Club, which she joined at the age of eight years, and who identified her as “an athlete with great promise” at an very early age.
But the most rousing welcome of the visit was from the hundreds of pupils from whom she received a prolonged cheer from the assembly in the school yard. One of the pupils, Nell McGrath, presented her with an illustrated project on her achievements, which she had completed, and she received a presentation from Miriam Foley, Principal, on behalf of the school, and met with teachers, Kate O'Regan, Leslie Doode, and Caitriona Sadlier, who had taught her at the school.
The formalities concluded with words of encouragement to the pupils from Fr Bobby Fletcher that dedication and commitment has achieved greatness in athletics for Sharlene Mawdsley and “some of you could follow in her footsteps” in the future by committing themselves to their training in athletics.
SHARLENE ‘LOOKING FORWARD’ TO OLYMPICS
Friends and supporters of Sharlene Mawdsley have been assured that her decision not to participate in the Irish National Senior Track and Field Championships over the weekend was “precautionary” due to a tight hamstring and there is nothing to worry about.
On social media, she said: “Unfortunately, I withdrew from the nationals today; my hamstring is a little tight and we don't want to take any risks between now and the rest of the season. But all is good and I am looking forward to getting back racing.”
Thanking her many well-wishers, she added: “Thank you for all the well-wishes; today was just a precaution, so no need to worry”, assuring them: “It was straight back to gym and physio” as she prepares for the Olympics in Paris from July 26 to August 11.