Mawdsley’s passport is stamped for the Olympics

By Shane Brophy

While it was known already, there is always something special when it is made official, and this was the case for Sharlene Mawdsley when she was officially selected on Team Ireland’s Athletics squad for the Olympic Games in Paris which get underway next week.

The Newport Athletic Club runner is one of a 23-strong Irish athletics squad for the track & field events which will take place in the Stade de France.

The 25-year old will represent Ireland in the women’s 400m, as well as the women’s and mixed 4x400m relay.

The semi-finals of the mixed relay take place on the evening of Friday, 2nd August with the final on the following evening, should Ireland qualify.

The heats of the individual 400m begin on Tuesday 6th August with a repechage round which Sharlene may or may not be involved in. The semi-finals take place the following evening with the final on Friday, 8th August.

However, the semi-finals of the women’s relay take place earlier that morning which could impact Sharlene and particularly teammate Rhasidat Adeleke, the latter set to be in medal contention. The final of the women’s mixed relay is scheduled for Saturday, 10th August.

This will be Sharlene Mawdsley’s first Olympic Games having missed out on Tokyo in 2021 after being overlooked for selection for the Mixed Relay team.

“This is a dream come true,” she said at the announcement last week.

“I can’t wait to go out to Paris and represent my country on the biggest stage of all.”

Mawdsley is one of a record of 122 athletes who are part of Team Ireland for the Olympics, surpassing the previously largest team of 116 for Tokyo 2020, held in 2021.

The athletics team are travelling to Paris on a high, following on from the phenomenal performances of the Athletics Ireland team at the European Championships last month.