Ireland has learned to look on in wonder when the explosive Rhasidat Adeleke is on the starting blocks and much more is to come.
The 21-year-old has stormed from Tallaght AC, through schools’ athletics in Terenure to Texas University and last night she helped Ireland to mixed relay 4x400m gold in Rome.
Adeleke ran a spellbinding second leg to set up up the victory with Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley last night.
Read More: Ireland win gold at Euros 4x400m mixed relay after stellar performance
Already the greatest sprinter Ireland has ever produced with a string of national records, Adeleke now sets off in search of another medal in the women’s 400m at the European Championship after last night’s heroics.
Accomplished, swift and poised to become an iconic sportswoman, Adeleke is already the 200m and 400m Irish record holder, the no1 ranked 400m US NCAA collegiate athlete, and world-ranked six.
Tomorrow night she runs in the semi-final in individual 400m after receiving a bye and it should have Irish eyes glued to the TV.
A challenge Adeleke is relishing: “When people expect things of you it means that they believe you can do good things or believe you can be up there. I probably see it more of a positive thing than a negative thing.
“Training’s been going really well, the recent relays were a series of really fun meets, it was so nice to be able to be on the relay again and compete alongside my teammates because I definitely love the teamwork aspect to track and field.
“I was really happy to be able to break the world best time in the 4x200m (with UK’s Dina Asher-Smith, Jamaica’s Lanae-Tavan Thomas, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred in Austin, Texas, last March but not registered as a World Record as the athletes were from different countries) because that was something my coach emphasised was definitely something we could do.
“I was really proud of the team and me in the team. It gave us a really good indicator of where the legs are, how we feel, going into the season.”
As a student at Texas University, Adeleke is not on the touring, 15 event, ‘pro’ Diamond League circuit which operates similarly to, say, Formula 1 moving events from continent to continent and country to country.
Rather racing in the US, and in a stunning burst of form last year, she took her personal best down to 49.90s in April, to 49.54s in May and to 49.20s in June.
The subsequent 2024 build up to Rome — from there it is on to the Olympics — has been such that it hasn’t brought Adeleke into much direct contact with those ahead of her in the world rankings.
“My coach had a couple of competitions down such as the World Relays, the Texas Invite meet, it was America in the main, then on to Rome,” she says.
“Rome is the main focus, it’s definitely good to get that championship in before the Olympics, kinda prepare you a little bit and remind you of what it feels like to be at a major championships.
“The Europeans is a very enjoyable meet, it’s an indicator of where you’re going to be coming into the Olympics, and good to see the competition again at such a high level.
“I really can’t wait to be there and competing, it’s just really good preparation ahead of the summer Olympics.”
Because while Adeleke may have swapped Tallaght AC’s red-and-yellow singlet for the distinctive orange Texas Longhorns kit, running for Ireland remains the thrill, she is always happy to take the green singlet when international competition comes around.
Home is never too far away for a girl who lists butter and ‘Irish’ condiments as what she misses most since moving to study in Texas — while also confessing to having stashed the odd Cadburys chocolate bar into her kitbag as a post-meet treat!
“It’s putting on the Irish vest again and running for something more than yourself which is brilliant,” says the young Dubliner.
“Even in an individual race I am running for more than myself, I’m running for my family, my friends, my coaches and and all the people who have supported me.
“But in something like the Europeans or the Olympics there is also my country.”
There is also the idea of being part of the larger ‘Team Ireland’ group at the Europeans, this 46-strong contingent being the largest Ireland squad ever sent to a European Championships.
Moreover it has provided the chance to reunite with former Tallaght AC clubmate, long time training partner and Ireland’s fastest man, 100m sprinter Israel Olatunde — a runner who has form here.
Olatunde’s last appearance at the European Championships, in Munich in 2022, saw him become the first ever Irishman to make the European 100m final.
“When we were younger Rhasidat was my training partner but she is in America and I am based in Ireland so we are both in different lanes now, doing our own things,” says Olatunde who made it through his 100m heat last night.
“I get to admire her performances from the outside now but she would message me if she saw there was something happening. I was 100 percent looking forward to meeting her in Rome, I see her as one of my great mates in the Irish set-up.
“At the same time she is one I am looking to for inspiration, even just watching her I am almost like a fan. Every time she steps on the track you can expect something special to happen. I am excited to see what she does for the rest of the season.”
Both Adeleke, born in Dublin, and Olatunde, born in Dundalk, are of Nigerian descent.
“I suppose coming over here our parents saw the chance to give their kids a better opportunity, I am kinda living their dream, they gave me this opportunity and I want to do well by Ireland and by them.”
Meanwhile, Adeleke also has her sights on the looming Olympics which could almost be viewed as a shot to nothing.
All four of the athletes ahead of the 21 year-old Adeleke in the world-rankings and competing at these Europeans are aged 25-27.
One worth keeping an eye on in Paris is 21 year-old Jersey girl and US media darling Talitha Diggs, an NCAA competitor with whom there is a potential rivalry developing.
Talitha’s mother Joetta Clark Diggs represented the USA at four Olympic Games, while she is the niece of both 800m star Hazel Clark who competed at three Olympics and the two-time Olympic 4×400 champion and American 800m metres record holder Jearl Miles Clark.
Think of Katie Taylor/Amanda Serrano levels; because this dates back to February 2023 when Diggs grabbed Stateside sports headlines by breaking the North American and NCAA indoor 400m record, clocking 50.15s, putting her joint eighth on the respective world all-time list.
Those were the headlines ready to go to print for Adeleke who had set an NCAA record of 50.33s just 90 minutes earlier.
Meanwhile it is clear Adeleke (and Diggs, don’t forget) will have a second bite at the Olympic apple in Los Angeles 2028 so there is room to take in the coming extravaganza as a first-up experience.
“I am definitely excited to see some other sports here at the Europeans and at the Olympic Games,” Adeleke says.
“Growing up I didn’t even watch track and field at the Olympics, it was just that it was really cool to see so many young people compete although I guess you don’t see it in track as much.
“There were athletes competing on such a major stage in swimming and gymnastics for their country and they were like 14 or 15 and that was really cool to see.
“I was about 13 at the time and I was like ‘Oh my God, they’re at the Olympics and they’re only 14-year-olds, I should be at the Olympics right now!’.”
To be fair, Adeleke is getting there as fast as she possibly can.
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