Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke has cruised through her Olympic debut and will progress to the 400m semi-final.
The Tallaght-based sprinter won her heat with a running time of 50.09.
She slowed down considerably in the last 50m of the race after realising her considerable lead against the other runners.
Ms Adeleke will next race in the semi-final on Wednesday, before hopefully progressing to the final on Friday.
Rhasidat Adeleke on her way to winning the women's 400m heat at the Oympics. Image: David Fitzgerald/SportsfileFollowing the heat, Ms Adeleke said the race felt “so good”.
“It was so fun,” she said. “My coach just said run the first 200 and make sure you’re in contention the whole time and as soon as you can break off the pace.
“I’ve been here for a week now and I've been itching to go the last three days.”
A large crowd of Irish fans cheered Ms Adeleke on as she cruised through the heat.
She said it was “amazing” to get support from her Irish fans.
??♀️ | ATHLETICS
Rhasidat Adeleke powers into the Women’s 400m SF clocking 50.09 to win her heat with ease ???#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/uZRArCqBNx
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 5, 2024
“I was like, ‘Am I at Morton Stadium right now?’,” she said.
“There were so many Irish flags and [I thought] let’s not just do this for me, let’s do it for them.”
Ms Adeleke has been tipped as a favourite to win a medal in the Women’s 400m.
In June, she won a Silver medal in the 400m at the European Championships and a Gold in the 4x400m mixed relay.
In 2017, at the age of just 14, Ms Adeleke also won a Silver medal in the 200 metres at the European Youth Olympic Festival held in Hungary.
Earlier today, athlete Sophie Becker finished sixth in her own heat with a time of 51.84, missing an automatic spot in the semi-final.
Sharlene Mawdsley of Team Ireland during the women's 400m heat at the Olympics. Photo by David Fitzgerald/SportsfileShe did, however, qualify for a repechage round tomorrow for another bid at the semi-final.
Sharlene Mawdsley will also compete in the repechage tomorrow after finishing third.
Ms Mawdsley finished in a time of 50.71 - a new personal best.
