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The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
I ran for Ireland at the Olympics – but my game-changing side-hustle brand stocked in major stores is my new focus
REPRESENTING your country at the Olympics is every athlete's dream - but for Dubliner Nadia Power, it was a goal she was almost too afraid to set. The 800m track star, who started running when she was just eight-years-old, should have backed herself from the off because in 2021 she 7 Nadia headed to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 7 Nadia has suffered a number of injuries during her career Credit:7 The Dublin native is now focusing on her own business Swifter Credit: 7 She launched the brand with partner James Madden After a breakthrough season in 2021, including breaking the Irish indoor 800m record twice, first running 2:02.44 and then to 2:00.98, she placed seventh in her heat in Tokyo. And the Templeogue native is open about the ups and downs of life in athletics, admitting it's "been a bad few years" after being hampered by various injuries. She told the Irish Sun: "I think my body is struggling to tolerate the training needed to be at a high level. "It's been a bad few years for me, to be honest. "I've had a lot of injuries over the last few years. Mostly lower leg from falling and calf and Achilles issues. "So I'm still dealing with one now at the moment. So it's been a bad few years for me to be honest with athletics, I've really struggled." Nadia told how the Olympics goal wasn't always on the table, adding: "I was never looking at the Olympics. I was always just not backing myself, I suppose. "It was only as it came closer that I realised I was running really well and had a chance. But it was probably just not being ambitious enough when I was younger." But after the disappointment and frustration of mounting injuries, Nadia now turned her focus to her fast-growing business - inspired by her athletics background. She told us: "So that's why I'm working hard on something else. I guess to distract me because BRAND BUZZ Nadia and her hurler partner James Madden teamed up to use their sports experience to create a homegrown range of practical fitness essentials through their brand Swifter. Nadia said kicking off the company was a way to "control" her time and combine work with her career as an athlete, adding: "Starting a business gave me the flexibility to train and work on something I'm passionate about." Noticing a "big boost in running" across the country, the pair decided to focus on creating "problem-solving products". James used his background in product development and sporting experience with the Dublin hurling team to create their first product - the SwiftVest back in 2023. And Nadia leads the design and content, using her years of running experience to ensure every product passes the pro athlete test. Run clubs are booming, with big races selling out within hours of going on sale and a huge surge in interest in the sport. COMMUNITY VIBES The pair host regular run clubs and events in Dublin, encouraging people to get a run in and connect over a coffee afterwards. Nadia said: "There's less interest in drinking and party culture and more interest in wellness. "Running clubs are a way to bring people together to socialise—it just makes the runs fly by. "It's so nice now that my friends want to do wholesome activities with me. "We're all happy to grab a coffee, go for a swim, or do an exercise class together." When it comes to overcoming a sports injury, Nadia emphasised the importance of "taking a step back" and "focusing on other things in your life" - like how she's thrown her full attention at Swifter, which is now stocked at Lifestyle Sports as well as Brown Thomas outlets in Dundrum and Cork. She advised: "Don't rush back for something. That's probably the biggest mistake I've made—trying to rush back for races. Just know the opportunity will come again next year. "Taking a step back and focusing on other things in your life really helps." JOURNAL TIME One of Swifter's bestselling products was inspired by Nadia's love of journalling - their Pursuit Training Journal, which they aim to be a personalised roadmap to achieving your fitness goals. Nadia said: "I've always kept a journal, for the last 10 years, I've tracked all my training, distances and times. "It's so helpful to look back when things went well or badly, or to figure out what caused an injury." And while her athletics career has sometimes left her frustrated and she's focusing on work over sport this summer, Nadia said she'll continue to work towards her goals on the track. She said: "I think just surrounding myself with good people, finding good training partners and a good coach, and making sure my lifestyle supports my training has helped a lot." See 7 Nadia is recovering from an Achilles injury Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 7 Nadia will be appearing at WellFest in May Credit: WellFest 7 Nadia won the Senior Women's 800m in the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Athletics Championships Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Daily Record
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
This 'leak-proof' £7.50 water bottle is a must for Oasis' reunion tour next month
The iconic Britpop band is about to embark on their highly anticipated reunion tour next month. Oasis' highly anticipated reunion tour is not far away now. Kicking off on July 4, the iconic Britpop band will return to the stage for the first time in 16 years. With just a few weeks to go, those who were lucky enough to nab tickets, which sold out in 10 hours, will be looking to make sure that they have all the essentials planned for their gig dates. Since the beloved '90s Britpop band will be playing at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium at the height of summer on August 8, 9 and 12, it's worth checking out these Swifter collapsible water bottles on Amazon to help keep hydrated. Ideal for keeping refreshed in between singing major hits such as 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't Look Back in Anger', fans can bag a set of two of these water bottles for just £14.99, working out at just under £7.50 each. Measuring at 500ml each, Scots can be rest assured that they meet Murrayfield's water bottle policy that allows for either a sealed plastic water bottle that is 500ml or less, or a small, refillable plastic/metal coffee tumbler that is under 600ml. Swifter Collapsible Water Bottles (2x500ml) £14.99 Amazon Buy here Product Description While concert-goers will need to keep the bottle empty when waiting to get into the stadium, there are multiple water points available to keep hydrated at any point throughout the almost two-hour gig. Crafted from safe and sustainable materials, this collapsible flask has been designed with a 'bite activation' feature, meaning it is "leak-proof" to prevent any unwanted spillages in a handbag that will need cleaned up. It also shrinks as you drink, minimising water bounce and making it easier to carry around for quite a few hours at a time. While the Swifter Water Bottles will definitely come in handy for those looking to keep hydrated at the Oasis reunion tou r, the anti-drip and flexible design make them suitable for a variety of activities such as jogging, hiking and much more. Over at Tesco, we have spotted this Keep It Handy Foldable Water Bottle (500ml) that comes with a handy attachment clip, meaning it can be secured to a belt or bag for convenience For anyone not keen on a collapsible design, then this Anyday Water Bottle, £9.60 at Waitrose, measures 500ml and will also be suitable for taking into the concert. As for the Swifter Water Bottles on Amazon, they do have quite a few glowing reviews, with a 4.1 rating from shoppers who love the "super handy" and "functional" design. One delighted customer wrote: "Bought these as a pair as I needed to carry additional water for my long runs. I wasn't expecting these to be as good as my current CamelBak bottle. How wrong I was! "These are the best water bottles I've ever used. The bite valve is effortless and leak proof , and easy to get the last drops. Build quality feels great and they are dishwasher safe (however I have only hand washed these so far)." A second happy customer wrote: "Really happy with these soft flasks! They're good quality, leak-proof, and have been super handy on my first few runs. Nice design too. Would recommend!" Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The 'bite activation' feature hasn't been well received by all shoppers, as one three-star review read: "Since the rubber mouthpiece has to be bitten, I cannot imagine the rubber mouth piece lasting long. At £16 for two it is not cheap. It is functional. I would question its durability and price." More shoppers preferred the design that meant there were less drips, as another happy purchaser wrote: "Happy with this purchase. The quality seems very good on these running water bottles, and the design is both functional and sleek. They've been reliable and leak-proof on my runs and handy day to day. Nice product." Get ready for the Oasis reunion tour by purchasing the Swifter Soft Water Flasks (2x500ml) for £14.99 on Amazon now.
