Minor niggle forces Mawdsley to sit out home-coming

By Thomas Conway

You know you’re doing something right when the entire country refers to you exclusively by your first name!

Previously, that was an honour held by only the biggest of celebrities - Taoiseach Simon for instance, or maybe Bono. But Sharlene has, in the space of little over a year, become a household name, her performances on the international stage catapulting the Newport woman into the stratosphere.

Sharlene Mawdsley isn’t the only one. Alongside her stands Rhasidat Adeleke, Ciara Mageean, and a host of other stars. Irish athletics is blossoming at the perfect moment, just before the Olympic Games, and Sharlene is a core part of the movement.

The 25 year-old didn’t compete at last weekend’s National Athletics Championships. However, it was no big deal - she didn’t feel right on the day and sensibly opted to sit this one out, with one eye on Paris in a few weeks’ time.

“It’s unfortunate that I didn’t run today, but my body just wasn’t 100 per-cent and I don’t want to take any risks before Paris,” she revealed.

“Honestly, it’s great being here. Even just going around getting pictures with little kids, that’s really nice. And with everyone here wishing you well for Paris, it’s just amazing.”

She was there, with her beaming smile and bubbly personality, happily jumping into photos with youngsters and chatting to well-wishers eager to express their support ahead of the Olympics.

That, incidentally, is the beauty of Irish athletics, and the National Championships. Athletes are accessible. In no other sport would patrons be afforded the opportunity to mix and mingle with elite athletes, to chat to them and wish them well on a direct personal level. But that was exactly the case in Santry last weekend.

The stars - Sharlene, Sarah Lavin, Rhasidat and Israel Olatunde - were all there and all open for conversation. It’s a small thing, but it’s worth emphasising. It makes the sport more intimate, which is exactly what’s needed to inspire future generations.

The fact that she withdrew from competing in the 200 metres at such a late stage might have prompted concern, but she insists that it was nothing more than a case of risk-avoidance prior to the Olympics. It was a miserable day in Santry on Saturday, the rain deluging from the heavens for most of the afternoon, and hence, conditions were precarious.

Phil Healy ultimately romped to victory in the 200 metres, which should give her a nice shot of confidence before Paris as well. But despite the withdrawal, Sharlene stuck around the venue for the afternoon. She wanted to be part of it, to soak it all in. This was, after all, the last significant event before the greatest chapter of her sporting career unfolds in the French capital in a few weeks’ time. She wasn’t going to miss it.

Living the Dream

So, is the Newport woman apprehensive ahead of Paris? It would be natural to feel a touch nervous. This is, after all, the realisation of a life-long dream. But the 400 metre specialist - who was actually due to compete in the 200 last Saturday - insists that the prevailing sentiment is one of excitement. She’s keyed up and ready for this - the greatest challenge of her life, and perhaps the most glorious moment.

“Yeah, look, it’s exciting,” she said.

“All I ever wanted to be was an Olympian, so it’s nothing but excitement between now and Paris - I just can’t wait.”

Context is important here, because it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Newport athlete. Part of what renders Sharlene’s story so inspiring is the fact that, three years ago, she was unceremoniously dropped from Ireland’s mixed 4x400m relay team in the lead up to Tokyo. It was a crippling blow, but she channelled the disappointment into a positive force and used it to effectively turn her career around. She promised herself that she would give it three years, see where the road led.

“That’s what I said to myself in 2021, that I would run until 2024 and that I’d give everything I had, that I’d never look back with any regrets. And that’s exactly what I’ve done,” she said.

Celebrity status

The pressures of being an elite-calibre athlete are self-evident, but thanks to her success on the track over the course of the past year, Sharlene now has to cope with a newfound celebrity status, a life in the public eye. That isn’t easy, but the Tipp woman is laser-focused. While she embraces the popularity, and enjoys inspiring kids to actively participate in sport, her thoughts are never far from the track. Her life ticks to a familiar beat - run, rest, recover. That’s what it takes to compete at this level.

“It’s nice, being recognised by people,” she admitted.

“But for me it’s just all about keeping the head down, training hard, and just getting the job done. You know, whatever happens after that happens, and I’m just really grateful if I can encourage some people, younger people in particular, kids, if I can encourage them to pursue sport as they get older - that’s a real positive for me.”