Club delight as hero Rha-ces into 400m final
CHEERS erupted from Tallaght Athletics Club last night as Rhasidat Adeleke took second place in the 400m Olympic semi-final.
The 21-year-old Dubliner will be the first Irish woman to compete in an Olympic sprint final on Friday.
Supporters gathered in her home club to watch the race as gold 400m balloons hung next to the projector.
Those who have known the sprinter since she joined the club at 12 were full of pride and emotion as she crossed the finish line with a time of 49.95 secs.
Andrea Uchime, 21, and 18-year-old Faith Ikpefua were among the many supporters in the club racked with nerves.
The sprinters trained with the 21-year-old at junior level and 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 fullcircle 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.”
Andrea said she never doubted Rhasidat would 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.”
Tallaght Athletics Club coach Johnny Fox – who passed away in April of this year – spotted her talent for sprinting. Derek Quinn, who is 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 is one of Ireland’s most exciting athletes and won a silver and gold medal at the European Championships earlier this year. Young girls across the country have no doubt been inspired by her – as many in the club last night sported the sprinter’s signature white bow.
Coach Derek said interest in the club has rocketed since her success, adding: “We see the increase 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 young sprinters she’s inspiring.
Derek added: “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!”