RAPID RELAY
Meet Sharlene Mawdsley: Irish 400m sprint Olympian who has jet-setting lifestyle and sociology degree
Qualifying for the Olympics took immense perseverance for this athlete
TRACK STAR Sharlene Mawdsley will live out her dream of competing in the summer Olympics.
After running a personal best and hitting Olympic qualification time in the 400m, Mawdsley has earned her place on the start line of Paris 2024 Olympics.
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Who is Sharlene Mawdsley
Sharlene Mawdsley is an Irish Olympic athlete who specialises in the 400m sprint.
Born August 1998, Mawdsley is from Newport, County Tipperary in Ireland - where she started competing in athletics as a child.
Early in her career, she competed primarily in the 100m and 200m sprint.
It was until 2019 that Mawdsley progressed and began to set her focus on the 400m sprint.
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The Puma athlete excelled academia as well as athletics at the University of Limerick where she proudly posted pictures with her mum Louise after graduating in Sociology and New Media.
From the United states to Rome, competitions keep Mawdsley on her toes as she jet-sets to compete all around the world.
But her athletic career has not been without its fair share of ups and downs.
After struggling to advance past heats in two previous European Championships, Mawsdley advanced to the final on merit at the 2024 World Indoors Championships before being disqualified for obstruction in the semifinals.
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Speaking on her disqualification she said: "This sport is one of the hardest of them all. The highs and lows feel second to none.
"I felt my hurt, and I’m sure I will again - but for now; onwards and upwards, because I am so lucky to get to go out with the girls tomorrow in the 4x400m."
Sharlene Mawdsley's hometown of Newport reacts to her winning silver medal at European Athletics Championships
In May, she won her first major international medal at the 2024 World Relays, after helping Ireland win the bronze medal in the mixed 4×400 m relay.
It was here in Chorzow, Poland she beat a personal best and hitting the Olympic qualification time in the 400m, Mawdsley proudly swooped her heat in a time of 50.72.
It’s honestly amazing, a dream come true
Sharlene Mawdsley
The 25-year-old is now second on the all-time Irish list behind Rhasidat Adeleke's time of 49.20
Mawdsley competed at the 2024 European Championships in June where her Irish team won the gold medal in the mixed 4×400 m relay.
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What sport will Sharlene Mawdsley be competing in at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Mawdsley qualified as one of a 23-strong Irish athletics squad for the track & field events which will take place in the Stade de France.
The Newport Athletic Club runner will represent Ireland in the women's 400m, as well as the women's and mixed 4x400m relay.
Making it to the Olympics is a dream come true for Mawdsley.
She was part of the quartet that qualified the Irish 4x400m mixed relay for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but when they didn’t make the final selection Mawdsley was disappointed.
“It’s honestly amazing, a dream come true.
“Until I got that email, I didn’t believe I was going, maybe a bit of PTSD from not going three years ago.”
“It’s crazy to know our little country will be represented in nearly every heat, even in the women’s 1,500m we have three athletes in that as well. So Irish athletics is making its pathways.”
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When is Paris 2024 Olympics games?
The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games will be France's biggest-ever sporting event.
The Olympic Games will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
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The opening ceremony is on Friday 26 July at 5.45pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
There is live TV coverage across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, providing access to all 32 events at Paris 2024, plus a nightly highlights programme will recap all the best bits.