Irish sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke narrowly missed winning an Olympic medal in the Women’s 400m event on Friday night, August 9.
Adeleke, from Tallaght in Dublin, finished with a time of 49.28 in the event, ultimately landing her in fourth place, just .30 seconds from third.
The first time Olympian just missed a place on the podium after Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek passed her in the last 50m of the race to finish with a time of 48.98 and win Bronze.
You have done us so proud 🥹
Rhasidat Adeleke has finished fourth in the 400m Olympic final in 49.28. We know you wanted more but you gave it everything, and you’ve made history for Ireland. #TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/NQianuO2BN
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 9, 2024
While Adeleke might not have won an Olympic medal in the final, the 21-year-old had already made Irish history by becoming the first Irish female sprinter ever to qualify for an Olympic final when she came in second in her semi-final on Wednesday.
The first Irish female to EVER qualify for an Olympic sprint final 🔥
Rhasidat Adeleke ✨#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/iO9znqaukw
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 7, 2024
Adeleke gave an emotional interview with RTÉ Sport after her event, admitting that she felt "a bit disappointed."
"The race went by so quickly," she said, "I just don't even know what happened.
"But that was all I had today. Hopefully, moving forward, I'll be able to get on that podium."
She continued: "It just comes down to experience, and further down the line, I'll be able to gain that repetition and confidence going forward and I’ll know how to put it together for the perfect race.”
Adeleke added: "I've been working for it for today, but it didn't happen today.
"It's just life, it's just sport. Things aren't always going to go your way, but it's about how you bounce back, how you take this and make your future better.
"So I'm just going take this experience, take this hurt, and hope the best for the future and keep working.
"I’m as hungry as ever and hopefully in the future there’ll be more podiums.”
"I wanted it today. I've been working for it today. It didn't happen today. It's just life, it's sport." - Rhasidat Adeleke reacts to her fourth-placed finish in the women's 400m final. Disappointment, but a determination to come back even stronger ☘️ #Paris2024 #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/uiRcsBpeh2
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 9, 2024
Sadly, the Dublin sprinter was subject to racist abuse after her record-setting performance at the European Athletic Championships in June, but, thankfully, her growing fanbase far outnumbers the bullies.
"You have made us all proud," Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday after Adeleke's Olympic performance.
You have made us all proud @rhasidatadeleke & you have made history in being the first @TeamIreland woman in an @Olympics sprint final! pic.twitter.com/TxQhLxJllw
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 9, 2024
"The country is so proud of you," Tanaiste Micheál Martin said.
Superb run Rhasidat Adeleke. So close to a medal in a 400m Olympic final of the highest quality.
Incredible performance in your first games. The country so proud of you.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 9, 2024
Perhaps the most proud was Adeleke's hometown of Tallaght in Dublin. Crowds gathered at the Tallaght Athletic Club on Friday night to roar for their clubmate as she ran in the final.
Pride fills the air in Tallaght Athletic Club as 21-year-old Rhasidat comes fourth. pic.twitter.com/exSUFJ9BMT
— Josh Crosbie (@JoshCrosbie3) August 9, 2024
However, Adeleke could still win an Olympic medal yet - though she missed the relay heats for the Women's 4x400m due to her individual 400m race on Friday, she confirmed that she'll be on the team when it runs in the final on Saturday.
Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Kelly McGrory, and Sharlene Mawdsley finished in third in their heat on Friday night, guaranteeing them a spot in the final on Saturday.
The Journal reports that the start list for the Women's 4x400m final won't be named until Saturday, but it's expected that Adeleke will replace McGrory.
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