Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke has revealed that she envisioned a scenario of having an Olympic medal around her neck in 2024, but because she was unable to do so at the Paris Olympics last summer, her eagerness to be successful has only increased.
The Tallaght native became the first Irish woman to run the 400m in under 50 seconds before the Olympics. She also holds seven individual Irish records across multiple distances and surfaces and contributed to two relay records in the women’s and mixed 4 × 400m events at the Paris Games.
There was huge hope for Adeleke to win another gold for Ireland last summer, but it wasn't to be. Nevertheless, Ireland remains proud of her achievements.
Adeleke, speaking to RTÉ Sport this week, admitted that she yearned for more, and the defeats have made her hungrier to rectify it.
Silver medallists Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy, and Sharlene Mawdsley of Team Ireland celebrate following their silver win in the women's 4x400m Relay Final."The vision that I had for myself after 2023 going into 2024, I had such big ambitions, and I would have seen myself with an Olympic medal," said Adeleke. "I’m very impatient when it comes to successful times, and I just want everything now.
"At the last European Championships, I came fifth, and this time I came second, so it is still progress; it is not exactly what I wanted; I would have loved to have won. So I have to be grateful for the progress I have made in such a short period."
Adeleke also believes that with more experience in the 400m, she will be better for it. She just needs to keep the faith and trust the process.
"2024 was my second year as a 400m runner, so with more experience and more time at the event and where I am as an athlete, I think before I know it, I’ll be exactly where I want to be.
"And it is not a bad progression rate at all, so I just need to keep faith with what I am doing and just trust the process."
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