Sharlene Mawdsley's emotional interview as she runs SB after father's passing
The Tipperary runner was returning to competitive action for the first time since the sudden death of her father Thomas earlier this month.
And the 26-year-old did her father proud in Slovenia as she ran a season's best time of 50.03 to finish third in the 400m.
Mawdsley ran a strong opening half of the race to have the lead coming into the home straight.
The Olympian fought hard in the closing stages but was eventually passed by Slovakia's Emma Zapletalová (50.76) and Belgium's Imke Vervaet 50.86, who both ran personal bests in a very fast race.
Mawdsley will also run in the 4x400m mixed relay, but she was emotional after running for the first time since losing her father.
She said after the race: "I honestly don't know how I made it around. But a season's best is great, it's just a shame that I didn't come first as I would have loved the top points, but it probably would have taken a PB to do that today."
Asked about her plans for the coming months, she said: "I'm not really sure what my plans are for the next few weeks. Today was just about getting out there and doing my family proud."
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sharlene Mawdsley reflects on 'emotional weekend' and targets race on Irish soil
Sharlene Mawdsley is looking forward to running on home soil later this month after clocking a season's best time over the weekend. The Tipperary sprinter finished third in the 400m in the European Team Athletics Championship in Maribor, Slovenia, on Saturday, clocking a time of 50.03. It was the 26-year-old's first race since the sudden death of her father Thomas last month. Reflecting on the weekend, Mawdsley wrote on Instagram: "An emotional weekend but so grateful for those around me making it a little easier. "I don't want to continue to touch on this subject publicly however, I do want to express my gratitude to those who have helped me these last number of weeks. To those who helped me get to the start line, my competitors for being so gracious and understanding, to my teammates and the staff this weekend for their help, they trusted me, when I wasn't sure I even trusted myself. "I will never be able to express my thanks to all of the people who have been there these last number of weeks (I hope you know who you all are) but I will never forget it. "Now we can look to the next race where I will start on home soil in Morton Games on July 11th" Mawdsley ran a strong opening half of Saturday's race and had the lead coming into the home straight. She fought hard in the closing stages but the Olympian was eventually passed by Slovakia's Emma Zapletalová (50.76) and Belgium's Imke Vervaet 50.86, who both ran personal bests in a very fast race. Mawdsley can be seen in action at the Morton Games on Friday, July 11, at Morton Stadium in Santry. Tickets for the event cost €10 and can be purchased online here.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Sharlene Mawdsley sends ‘grateful' message to those who made 'emotional weekend a little bit easier' after return
SHARLENE MAWDSLEY thanked her closest supporters for trusting her "when I wasn't sure I trusted myself" after returning to racing. clocked a season's best time to . It was her first race since the death of her dad Thomas at the start of June. And in an emotional post on star shared a message of thanks to those who got her to Maribor. She said: "A return to racing "An emotional weekend but so grateful for those around me making it a little easier. Read More on Sharlene Mawdsley "I don't want to continue to touch on this subject publicly however, I do want to express my gratitude to those who have helped me these last number of weeks. "To those who helped me get to the start line, my competitors for being so gracious and understanding, to my teammates and the staff this weekend for their help. "They trusted me, when I wasn't sure I even trusted myself. "I will never be able to express my thanks to all of the people who have been there these last number of weeks (I hope you know who you all are) but I will never forget it." Most read in Sport She also revealed when fans can next expect her on the track. Mawdsley added: "Now we can look to the next race where I will start on home soil in Morton Games on July 11th" Sharlene Mawdsley shows off makeup before Zagreb race The Olympian had her late dad in her thoughts immediately following her performance in Slovenia. In a pair of post-race interviews , she dedicated her display to him. She said: "I think the thing was I going to have to race eventually or he would probably haunt me. "Initially, I wasn't doing Team Championships. The lane then became available and I thought maybe that's a sign. "To run a season's best is a nice boost, I guess, for the rest of the season and now I know he is looking down on me. "He got me through that race so I'm sure it is going to be an upward trajectory for the rest of the season." BACK IN STYLE Mawdsley had not raced since In addition to that showing on the Sunday at the big-money Grand Slam Track event, she also came sixth in the long sprints category 24 hours previous. For that performance, she banked $15,000 with Olympic 400m gold medallist Marileidy Paulino coming out on top. Mawdsley wound up in fifth place. Once again, she clocked a season's-best time in that race at 51.12. And the Paris Olympian hopes that she can carry her performance from She told "It is a shame I didn't come first. I would have loved the top points but it probably would have taken a PB to do that today. "I am looking forward to cheering on the rest of the team now. "It is going to be an exciting couple of days. "I don't know what my plans are for the next few days. "Today was just about getting out there and doing my family proud." 1 Sharlene Mawdsley of Team Ireland after the women's 400m repechage at the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Extra.ie
Sharlene Mawdsley says late father is 'looking down on me' as she returns to track
Sharlene Mawdsley has paid tribute to her late father, revealing 'I know he is looking down on me,' after she returned to the race track this weekend. The Olympian's father, Thomas 'Tucker' Mawdsley died on Tuesday, June 3, with Sharlene taking to social media to confirm the devastating news. Last week, the 26-year-old announced her 'last minute' return to the track, as she got set for the European Team Championships. Sharlene Mawdsley has paid tribute to her late father, revealing 'I know he is looking down on me,' after she returned to the race track this weekend. Pic: X/ Athletics Ireland Sharing a picture of herself in her Irish kit, Sharlene shared: 'A last minute decision but I'm stepping into the Irish kit again this weekend for the European team championships.' The championships took place in Slovenia with Sharlene not only placing third in the Women's 400m but clocking a season best time at the same time. Speaking after her spectacular return to the track, the Tipperary native admitted she had to get back racing eventually or her father 'would probably haunt me.' 🗣️ 'A season's best is great…I'm looking forward to cheering on the rest of the team now.' Hear from Sharlene Mawdsley after she clocked a season's best of 50.93 to finish third in the Women's 400m at the European Team Championships 🤩#IrishAthletics #Maribor2025 #ETCH2025 — Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 28, 2025 She said: 'I wasn't doing Team Championships. The lane then became available and I thought maybe that's a sign.' The runner added that getting a season's best was a 'nice boost' for the rest of the season. 'Now I know he is looking down on me,' she said of her father. She said: 'He got me through that race so I'm sure it is going to be an upward trajectory for the rest of the season.' Confirming the death of her father earlier in the month, Sharlene took to social media, writing: 'I am devastated to say that my Dad has passed away. I have no words right now to truly capture how I feel. I will forever love and miss him so much. 'I would like to thank everyone who has been so kind and supportive at this time, from the emergency services to our great neighbours and wider community, and so many friends.'
