"The Time Has Come" Phil Healy Announces Retirement From Athletics

Phil Healy has announced her retirement from athletics after 14 years representing Ireland on the international stage.

The Bandon AC star confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement released on Monday morning, bringing the curtain down on a career that saw her become a two time Olympian, a European Championships silver medallist, a national record holder, and one of the cornerstones of Ireland's relay success on the world stage.

"After 14 unforgettable years representing Ireland on the international stage, the time has come for me to retire from athletics," Healy wrote.

"It has been the greatest honour and privilege to wear the green of Ireland and represent both my club and country at the highest level."

For Irish athletics fans, Healy's career will forever be associated with some of the sport's most memorable moments. From her famous come from behind relay leg for UCC that went viral around the world in 2016, to becoming the first Irish woman to break 23 seconds for 200m, she helped transform perceptions of what Irish sprinting could achieve.

The Cork athlete went on to become a two time Olympian, competing at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. In Tokyo, she made history as the first Irish woman to compete in three track events at a single Olympic Games, lining up in the 200m, 400m, and mixed 4x400m relay.

Among the achievements she highlighted in her retirement statement were breaking Irish records in both the 100m and 200m, finishing fourth in the 400m at the 2021 European Indoor Championships, and her Olympic appearances.

"Looking back, I can truly say I achieved more than the 11 year old girl who first joined Bandon AC could ever have imagined," she said.

"When I reflect on this chapter of my life, so many incredible memories come to mind. Breaking the Irish national records in both the 100m and 200m, becoming a two time Olympian, finishing fourth individually in the 400m at the European Indoor Championships, and becoming the first Irish female athlete to compete in three events at a single Olympic Games are achievements I will always be proud of."

While Healy enjoyed considerable individual success, some of the defining moments of her career came in the Irish relay vest.

As a member of Ireland's women's 4x400m relay squad, she played a key role in the team's silver medal winning performance at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome. Just weeks later, she was part of the quartet that narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in Paris, with Ireland finishing fourth in a national record of 3:19.90.

Reflecting on that unforgettable summer, Healy described it as one of the highlights of her sporting life.

"Winning a major championship medal was always a dream of mine, so helping our relay team secure a European silver medal stands out as one of the most special moments of my career.

"Just a few weeks later, being part of Ireland's fourth place finish at the Paris Olympic Games made the summer of 2024 truly unforgettable."

The retirement announcement also offered a candid insight into some of the challenges she faced behind the scenes.

Healy revealed that she had battled health issues in recent years, including a diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition, in 2022.

"While I may not have faced many traditional sporting injuries, I have had my share of health challenges, which at times have been even more difficult to manage," she explained.

"Following my diagnosis with Hashimoto's disease in 2022, I really struggled with my training and confidence and questioned if this was going to be the end of my athletics career. But somehow I made it to that magical 2024, and I'm proud I fought through."

Despite stepping away from competition, the 17 time Irish senior champion says she is leaving the sport on her own terms.

"Retirement is a decision every athlete knows will come eventually, and I always wanted to leave the sport on my own terms.

"While I will miss competing, I know I will miss the people the most."

Healy reserved special praise for those who supported her throughout her career, including long time coach Shane McCormack, who guided her for 13 years, describing him as "a coach, mentor and friend".

As tributes begin to pour in from across Ireland and beyond, Healy leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond medals and records. For over a decade she was one of the faces of Irish athletics, helping inspire a generation of young sprinters while proving that Irish athletes could compete with the very best in Europe and the world.

She signed off her retirement statement with a simple message that perfectly captured her career:

"I leave this sport with immense pride, gratitude, and a lifetime of memories.

"Forever proud to have represented Ireland."

Image: Nikola Krstic