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"It felt so good. It was so fun. Am I at Morton Stadium right now?" Rhasidat Adeleke enjoyed winning her 400m heat in front of a big Irish crowd in Paris
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 5, 2024
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RHASIDAT ADELEKE IS enjoying the support from Irish fans in Paris after dominating her 400 metre heat in the Olympic Games this morning and securing a place in Wednesday’s semi-final.
The Dublin-born runner came first in her heat this morning, cruising over the line in what seemed second nature to her. Speaking after qualifying for the Olympic semi-final, Adeleke said she is appreciating the support from irish fans in Paris.
“I was like, ‘Am I at Morton Stadium right now?’,” she told RTÉ Sport when asked how the reception felt.
“It was amazing. There’s so many Irish flags. When I got into my blocks I said, ‘Let’s not just do this for me, let’s do it for them. There’s so many people here supporting [me], let’s give them my all.”
Asked on her reaction to young children donning her trademark hairbow, she said that it was a reminder of the importance of setting a good example for the next generation of athletes and citizens.
“I’m a very fond believer that it’s very important to be that person for people, because there were people who I looked up to and I would copy them growing up.”
The Tallaght star put a massive distance between herself and her competitors for the first 300 metres, before having a couple of glances at the clock and over her shoulder and pulling up at the very end.
Her time was 50.09, and while her Personal Best is 49.06, it would seem certain she could have blown that apart as she left Alexis Holmes and Junelle Bromfield in her wake after a false start threatened her composure.
Adeleke later said that her stellar performance was down to a plan that worked – detailing how her coaches had told her to keep the other runners in contention for the first 200 metres before breaking off for the final half.
“I feel like I had done that really well for the last 100 [meters],” she said. “It felt really good,” she added.
Today was the first time that Adeleke has ran at the Olympics so far, as the Texas Tech graduate sat out of the mixed relay event earlier in the week. She said that she was raring to go and excited that her games are now underway.
“It’s been so fun. I’ve seen all my teammates compete and they’ve been doing phenomenally and that makes me want to follow in their footsteps. I’m so excited to be here.”
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She’s a class act and seems like a very down to earth young woman.keep doing what you’re doing,the whole of Ireland is rooting for you
brilliant run what a star going for gold now no doubt cmon Rhasidat bring it home
Phenomenal athlete..
She is some athlete.
Brilliant performance and sounds like a really genuine person. Well done.
What a legend Adeleke is, so young but already on course to become Ireland’s greatest athlete.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: Going some to beat the O’Donovan brothers!
Simply a tremendous Irish woman
Keep going Keep believing. Rhasidat. Good luck.
She’s being unfairly built up my the media as a sure thing. She is only 21 and will find it hard to get into the medals. There are at least four girls ,on paper at least, who have faster times. My worry is that if she doesn’t medal she will be subjected to the usual vile abuse that social media thrives on. I wish her well.
she wears the Green well
Let’s try not to get carried away!
She’s a brilliant athlete, but she’s still only 21!
To get silver in the Europeans she had to run a PB, and after the mixed relay, we know that European medals maybe aren’t always a good guide…
I hope I’m wrong, but I fear that the Olympics are coming just a little bit too soon for her
@lesidees: I have to agree. I think that we need to temper our expectations a little bit; she is undoubtedly a tremendous talent, but the Olympics are a big step up from the Euros. I hope that she manages to clinch a medal, but if she doesn’t on this occasion it’s not the end of the world. She will be a major player in world athletics for the next decade, and will win plenty of accolades along the way. Best of luck to her!
@Trevor McCormack:
2028 in LA …..
@lesidees: Regardless of medals she is a fantastic ambassador for Irish sport and a perfect role model for young kids starting in athletics
Why are comments closed on the stormont article
@Pat Collins: Were they ever open?
Looking forward to the gold medal
She is a superb athlete but the opposition from now on is the best in the world some incredible times been ran we can’t get carried away Rte are creating the hype machine and I fear the pressure could tell in the end I hope I am wrong but taught of gold at this moment is premature it’s too early to say
Anyone know when the final is on?
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: tomorrow I think
@Kieran Ferrett: Semi final Wednesday and if she’s there, the final is Friday
@Bert Carolan: cheers Bert. Up to my eyes with work but will try to get to a screen to watch her
When is the final?
@Ulick: Semi finals first!
She’s brilliant and seems a lovely person too.
The semi and ultimately the final are going to be very competitive and fast races, whoever wins the gold will most likely break the Olympic record. Her heat today was a stroll in the end and so she looks up to running sub 49 seconds.
She is in contention but up against world’s best, a nation holds its breath.
Her and kellie shoulder to shoulder we wouldn’t need any blagaueds in the dail 2 of the best irish females to come out of ireland for long long time, powerful irish lady’s god bless you both and good luck.
@mark duggan: Its sad to say that Kellie won’t stand near Rashidat I fear
@DianeRyanONeill: What ???
have your say