Derval O'Rourke hits back at skorts debate telling fans 'put your bums in seats'
Top athlete Derval O'Rourke says the best way to show support for the camogie girls is to go and watch them play. The world champion sprinter says it's all very well to be outraged, but what women's sport needs is to "put more bums on seats".
Olympian Derval, 43, was speaking ahead of the Munster senior camogie final, which was due to be held today but has been postponed after both sides vowed to wear shorts in protest at the rule they must wear skorts.
Derval said: "We're all very quick to get outraged and of course, they should have the choice to wear whatever they want. It's ridiculous and frustrating. But for all of us who have got engaged with this - now, go to a match. I'm including myself in that.
"We've all cared enough to talk about it. Now actually show up. The takeaway for all of us who have gotten engaged with it is, get off the couch and go to a match. The big thing in women's sport is people consuming it. So show up when this is resolved, when it dies down.
"They're so skilled. I was at an All-Ireland final a few years ago... It was absolutely phenomenal, they're unreal. Camogie players, you have our attention now. We should watch you do what you do and not care what you wear. Add another layer to the support."
The Cork star said this is an issue that would have been building for a long time before it burst out.
She added: "These scenarios never happen overnight, particularly for women in sport. It's not like women wake up one morning and say, 'We're fed up'. This has been happening for years and years.
"A tipping point happens - like what happened last week." [The match was abandoned when the Kilkenny and Dublin players turned up in shorts.] "When that happens it's like someone lights the match and it has to get resolved. I enjoy that they're resolving it by a little bit of force.
"Obviously they should be able to wear whatever they want, but it's about choice - I hope they get the choice."
Derval was talking to The Mirror to mark asthma awareness week this week. It's dedicated to raising awareness and promoting active lifestyles for sufferers. The mum-of-two told how she has asthma and says being active made her feel better.
She was diagnosed with the breathing condition when she was seven or eight and recalls getting wheezy and short of breath as a child. Derval added: "For a while, I used to not run too far and because I was always a sprinter, I would run a bit and have a rest.
"There's a negative association with asthma and being active. It shouldn't be that way. Because when you're active, it's brilliant for you. Moving and being active is the right thing to do.
"I was diagnosed and then I remember always having my inhaler and my reliever inhaler with me everywhere. As a kid, I wondered would I be able to do sport. I was worried about it. If there was a problem with my asthma, maybe i couldn't do it."
Her asthma has been well managed so she never ended up in hospital. However she has had to go on courses of steroids over the years, to prevent attacks. She says finding out Paula Radcliffe had asthma made her feel she wasn't alone.
'There's a negative association with asthma and being active, It shouldn't be that way. Because when you're active, it's brilliant for you. It's helpful. Moving and being active is the right thing to do.'
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