I’LL TOK ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH
Irish sprint sensation distraught by cancellation of Junior Worlds but now has an Olympic dream
DEVASTATION could yet turn into a Tokyo surprise for Rhasidat Adeleke.
Had this been a normal year, the teenage Irish sprint sensation would be gearing up for her Leaving Cert next month and a tilt at the Junior World Championships in Kenya in July.
The Leaving Cert was recently cancelled and, while Adeleke hoped the Junior Worlds would be rescheduled for the autumn, it won’t be happening.
“Oh, absolutely distraught,” she admitted. “I was still looking forward, still training hard and had a major championship to look forward to.
“But the fact that it’s been cancelled is just so upsetting.
“I would have really enjoyed not just the whole competition, but the whole atmosphere because I heard they’re some of the best fans in the world.
“It would have been an unreal experience. But I’m happy that I’d a world under-20 experience from Finland in 2018.
“That’s probably the only thing that’s keeping me going now.”
A double gold winner at
the
European Youth Olympics last year, she was a silver medallist with the Irish 4x100m relay team – also comprising of Gina Moses, Molly Scott and Patience Jumbo-gula – in Finland.
She also won silver in the under-18 Europeans in 2018 – while still only 15.
With the Olympic Games now going ahead in July 2021, there’s the prospect of the relay team having a crack at Tokyo.
“It’s probably a little blessing in disguise because our relay team is really young. Another year of development could really mean the world to us,” said the 17-year-old.
“Our bodies develop, our speed develops and we mature – and hopefully that (extra) year will prove useful.
“Even though we’re maybe not getting the best training, it’s still another year to develop. Hopefully we can get everything together towards Tokyo.”
Despite her busy athletics schedule, Adeleke worked hard in school and in exams.
It makes her hopeful of getting the points for a college business or social studies course.
“At first I was nervous but cancelling the Leaving Cert was the best decision, I was happy they announced it early,” the Dubliner admitted.
Whether she undertakes her studies here or on a US scholarship remains a matter of debate.
“The whole Covid 19 situation makes it more difficult.
“I’ve been talking to a few universities, just keeping my options open.
“So many things would keep me in
Ireland. If I don’t like the American experience I have the option of coming home, but it’s nothing that
I’d be scared of exploring.”
This period has given Adeleke time to reflect on the last couple of years.
“Photo memories come up and it’s a time to be so grateful for the places I’ve been to and the opportunities I’ve been given.”