Mawdsley left heart-broken at Olympic snub

By Shane Brophy

Sharlene Mawdsley has been left heart-broken as her Olympic dream was extinguished, for now, after being dropped from the 4x400m Mixed Relay team, despite being on the team that booked Ireland’s spot at the Games.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland ratified the selection of Athletics Ireland who nominated Sophie Becker and Cliodhna Manning to make up the female side of the team, along with Phil Healy who Mawdsley ran with when Ireland qualified at the World Championships in May.

“It breaks my heart to say I will not be on the plane to Tokyo,” said the 21-year-old on an Instagram post last week.

It is the first time the Mixed Relay event will be held at the Olympics and Sharlene has been involved in the fledging competition since its infancy in 2019 where she the first try to qualify for the Games in Geneva to two month ago where she along with Healy, Thomas Barr and Chris O’Donnell booked Ireland’s place in Tokyo. However, Athletics Ireland had the power to alter the make-up of the team and that is what they have done.

“I’ll never forget the night we qualified for the Olympics,” Mawdsley added.

“So to fall short on the last hurdle, the biggest race of them all after being a part of it every step of the way, is truly heart-breaking.

“Sport is cruel, and this will hurt for a long time.”

While disappointment can break many an athlete, it can also inspire and at the age of just 21, Sharlene still has her best days ahead of her with the next Olympics in Paris just three years away.

“Although I won’t be in Tokyo to represent our country, I will use this time to grow as an athlete, get fitter and stronger and come back fighting,” she added.

“I wish the team and all of team Ireland the very best of luck and I know they will do us all proud. I know I would have given everything to be there.”