Name: Sophie O’Sullivan
Club: Ballymore/Cobh AC
Event: 1,500m
Personal Best: 4:00.23
Tokyo Schedule: Sat 13 September 11:50am (Heats), Sun 14th September 13:05pm (Semi-Final), with the Final Scheduled for Tue 16th September at 14:05pm
TOKYO UPDATE
Sophie O'Sullivan is an athlete that always delivers 200%. Her grit and determination and total focus on the task at hand was evident in the way she surged forward towards the finishing line, using every ounce of energy her body could muster. Despite her lack of races since her glorious NCAA victory, despite her weeks and months spent cross-training, despite all the adversity, the back-talk that surrounded her entry to the World Championships, the Ballymore-Cobh athlete proved her ability once more when the big moment counted. Sophie is a racer, an athlete who relies on strategy and instinct to run her best. She does not need moving lights, or pacers - she wants to race. As her mother Sonia said this morning "The World Championships was her carrot"... and it is that carrot that got her through her cross-training and right on track to on the road to Tokyo. She finished 6th in her heat, the final automatic qualifying spot in a heat that was by far the fastest - she was 6th overall. Tune in for her semi-final tomorrow at 1.05pm.
Semi-final: Unfortunately for Sophie she will now bow out of the World Championships. Her magnificent run in the heats took its toil. The Ballymore/Cobh athlete can be mighty proud of her achievement - a world championship semi-finalist. More to come from this lady.
Background
Sophie O’Sullivan needs no introduction. Daughter of one of Irelands most prolific achievers at international level, Sonia O’Sullivan, the Ballymore/Cobh AC athlete comes with a line of accomplishments at the tender age of 23.
Sophie started her athletics career at High Jump earning an All-Ireland medal at underage. In Australia where she grew up, she participated in multiple sports but it was running that always drew her back in – winning races despite very low mileage compared to her peers. Her first success at international level came with a silver medal at the u18 Europeans in Hungary in 2018. While she did compete the following year in the u20 Europeans, the Australian born athlete had to wait a further four years for a podium finish. It was then in 2023 that she made history by becoming the first Irish athlete to take gold at an u23 European Championship. At college in the US, the University of Washington Communications graduate had her big career moment earlier this summer when she became only the fifth Irish person to win an NCAA championship. O’Sullivan stormed to victory in the 1500m in Oregon to take the NCAA title.
At senior level, O’Sullivan has competed in the Paris Olympic Games, one World Indoors, along with three NCAA track finals. Tokyo will be her second World Championship appearance.
International Majors
2018: European u18 Championships Hungary 800m, 2nd Final
2019: European u20 Championships Sweden 1500m, 8th SF
2023: NCAA Division I Texas, 1500m 12th Final
2023: European u23 Championships Espoo Finland, 1500m 1st Final
2023: World Championships Budapest 1500m H3 8th
2024: NCAA Division I Oregon, 1500m 12th Final
2024: Olympic Games Paris 7th H1 7th RR1 4th
2025: World Indoors China 3000m 6th H3
2025: NCAA Division I, Oregon 1500m 1st Final
2025: World Championships 1500m, Tokyo H3 6th
Personal Bests
800m: 2:00.28 14/7/2024
1500m: 4:00.23 6/8/2024
Mile: 4:33.24 11/2/2023
3000m: 8:44.72 6/9/2023
1500m (i): 4:16.68 21/3/2025