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FIONNUALA McCORMACK MADE history in Paris this morning as she became Ireland’s first ever five-time female Olympian.
McCormack finished 28th in the women’s marathon in a season-best time of 2:30:12, recording her third consecutive top 30 finish at the Games.
The 39-year-old Wicklow native made her Olympic debut at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Sifan Hassan took gold, a remarkable achievement on the back of her bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m events.
The Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete crossed in an Olympic record time of 2:22:55 after sprinting clear of Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to win by three seconds.
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri won bronze, with McCormack seven minutes and 17 seconds down on Hassan’s winning time.
“It wasn’t what I came here for. It was not what I envisaged at all,” McCormack told RTÉ.
“I feel like I never gave up but it wasn’t what I was hoping for really. I suppose (I was hoping for), minimum, better than I’d ever ran before and I was 20th in Rio, so I suppose better than that really.
“The course was great. We should have more courses like that maybe. Although at the end I think I would have nearly preferred more hills and less flat. I found the hills break it up and almost give you something to focus on, whereas when you’re on the flat it just feels like it’s going on forever.
“I hung on in there for as long as I could. On the first big hill I could feel I was gaining back into where I wanted to be but I don’t know, like I wasn’t in the race, which I was really hoping I would be this time.
“It’s hard when you’re in a race and just kind of watching everything move ahead of you, but the marathon is a bit like that and you have to just dig in and hold on as best you can and hopefully have something at the end to maybe make it respectable.”
McCormack was asked how she will reflect on becoming Ireland’s first ever five-time female Olympian.
“I suppose I can’t yet,” she said.
“It’s been mentioned a lot over the last while and to be honest most of the time it just makes me feel old, but I didn’t want to just be a participant in five Olympics, I wanted to perform, and I’m not sure I really did that today.
“I’ll look back on it eventually but at the moment it’s too soon. But out there on the course it was unbelievable, even the amount of people I could hear cheering for me from Wicklow and the amount of people that knew my name.
“You know it’s Irish people out there because so many people can’t pronounce my name and when I hear ‘Fionnuala’ I know I’m the only Fionnuala in the race and it is great to hear, even when you’re struggling, you almost up your game a bit because the support was unbelievable out there.”
Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Fionnuala Britton McCormack is such an amazing athlete. 5 Olympics she deserves a medal
These games for us just keep on giving, well done lass.
Super running Finnoula, just super!! Well done
A great achievement making 5 Olympic Games,well done today. You have always represented yourself and Ireland well. Thank you
To give a little context, she did her seasons best time. Finished 28th out of 91 starters. 11 competitors didn’t even finish the race. Bettered her time at two previous Olympics. Only 4 people older than her in the race. She qualified by running a 2.26.19 time at the Valencia marathon in December ‘23 which was just 31 seconds inside the qualifying time. All this just 6 months after giving birth to her third child. Jaysus
Well done to her but with an 8 minute gap to catch a leader maybe it is time to retire.
@Gerry Lamont: She finishes top 30 in the world at an Olympics, and breaks an Irish appearance record doing it, and you think she should retire. Would you be inside the top 30 in the world at anything in your life Gerry?
@Gerry Lamont: Willie Nelson was asked if he ever considered retiring. He thought for a while and answered “Basically, my life consists of playing a little golf and singing songs for people. Which do you want me to give up?” Same here. As long as she wants to run……….!
@Gerry Lamont: have u ever done a marathon. I have It’s bloody tough and it took me over four hours….to come 8mins behind the best in the world is some achievement…to qualify and participate in five Olympics is an even greater achievement
@Toca Stories: well done that is some achievement
@Sean Money: thanks. I hated every minute of it to be honest. Very tough
@Gerry Lamont: she can retire or step back a bit when she feels she can no longer compete at the level she wants to compete at. Swear to God. Some people are so clueless. She’s qualified and running at the Olympics here.
@Gerry Lamont: are you going to tog out yourself Gerry,or just run your mouth ?
@Gerry Lamont: I don’t know why 32 people agree with you,she is brilliant ,may she do five more
Makes history with a 28th place finish?
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: First Irish woman to compete in 5 Olympics.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: It’s got to the stage now where people can’t even be arsed reading the subheadline…
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: well I think she has 5 gold medals now so she has done pretty well
@Brian: that clown probably can’t read
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: and spent her career mostly just making up the numbers in the Olympics
@Ted Daly: You don’t run in the Olympic Marathon unless you achieve the qualifying time. But I suppose it means that the vast majority of Olympic athletes are just ‘making up the numbers’?
Well Done, Lara Gillespie!! Another great result from one of our cyclists on the track. Just think what we could do if we had a decent veledrome!! #COYGIG! Onwards & Upwards!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Lara was, as usual, brilliant.
Super, at least she doesn’t cheat.
well done to each and everyone who took part in the Olympics. to all the sports stars and the volunteers,the people of France wel done ya’s put on a great show
Dublin hosting the Olympics in 2072???
@Martin Finnerty: That’s mad, Ted!
Ukraine are now the aggressors
Where’s the outrage .
@Richie Whelan: It’s defence. Drawing Russian troops away from SE Ukraine.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: a classic pincer movement. Draw the rooskies in then……blam!! War won in no time
@Richie Whelan: Best form of defence is Attack!
@Sean Buckley: media didn’t tell Irish people to be outraged
So stupid paddy sees no wrong.
have your say