Cheers erupt in Tallaght as Rhasidat Adeleke secures historic spot in Olympic sprint final
Supporters gathered in Rhasidat’s home club in Tallaght tonight to watch the anticipated race as gold 400m balloons hung next to the projector.
Cheers erupted from Tallaght Athletics Club tonight as Rhasidat Adeleke pounded over the finish line in second place in the 400m Olympic semi-final. The 21-year-old Dubliner will be the first Irish woman ever to compete in an Olympic sprint final, as she will take on the showdown in Paris on Friday.
Supporters gathered in Rhasidat’s home club in Tallaght tonight to watch the anticipated race as gold 400m balloons hung next to the projector. Those who have known the sprinter since she joined the club at 12 became emotional as she crossed the finish line in second place with a time of 49.95.
Rhasidat took part in the first of three semi-finals for the 400m- the top two in each race go through to the final along with the two fastest losers from all three semis. Andrea Uchime, 21, and 18-year-old Faith Ikpefua were among the many supporters racked with nerves as they awaited for Rhasidat's race to start.
READ MORE: In pictures: Rhasidat Adeleke becomes first Irish female sprinter to qualify for Olympic final
READ MORE: Rhasidat Adeleke finishes second in 400m to make the Olympic final - LIVE reaction
The sprinters trained with the 21-year-old at junior level and always knew she would be a star.
Andrea said: “We are very proud, to see where she is now and know how hard she worked, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. It’s such a full-circle moment. We are just so proud of her, it’s just an emotional time.”
Faith added: “We all knew (she was a star) she had that light in her, she was always a winner, she had the belief and she always had the right attitude.”
Speaking after Rhasidat stormed the finish line in second place, Andrea said she never doubted she’d secure a place in the final, adding: “It was expected, she did so good, we kept just saying ‘push, push, push’ she is very strong”.
Rhasidat joined Tallaght Athletics Club at 12 years old, and it was coach Johnny Fox - who passed away in April of this year- who spotted her talent for sprinting.
Derek Quinn, who is currently a long-distance coach in the club but trained Rhasidat as a child, said she has given “everything” to get to the level she’s at today.
He said: “She’s been at this since a young age, it is dedication and hard work. It was Johnny who saw it in her, she actually never liked the 400m but he told her to do it. But, she can only get better. She is 21 and she is still learning, even after all these years.”
Rhasidat has firmly been on the athletics map for the past few years, but she certainly became one of Ireland’s most exciting athletes when she won a silver and gold medal at the European Championship earlier this year.
Young girls across the country have no doubt been inspired by her athleticism and her style- as many in her club last night sported the sprinter's signature white bow.
Coach Derek said interest in the club has skyrocketed since her success, adding: “We see the increase out on the tracks there, a lot of them want to be sprinters and a lot of them won’t make it, but it’s still great to have as a hobby.”
After finishing school in Dublin, Rhasidat gained a scholarship to Texas University where she has been coached by some of the best in the world and was picked up by Nike as one of their professional athletes.
Despite this, the 21-year-old always makes time to visit her home club when she’s in Dublin and chat with the many young sprinters she’s inspiring.
Chairman of Tallaght Athletics Club Derek Quinn said her talent was spotted at a young age, and there are now many children in the club hoping to reach her level.
He said: “They all love her so much, all the young girls and fellas are so inspired by her. They love her when she comes down and anytime she is home she comes down for a night. If she wins a medal she will hopefully be down!”
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