By Phil Knox
In the world of Irish athletics, few have had as enduring an Olympic career as Fionnuala McCormack. As she prepares to represent Ireland at the Paris 2024 Games, starting in less than a month, McCormack will make history by becoming the first Irish female to compete in five consecutive Games, a feat unmatched even by the legendary Sonia O'Sullivan.
Early Beginnings and Rising Through the Ranks
Fionnuala McCormack's journey in athletics began in her hometown of Newcastle, Wicklow. Growing up in a small village with limited sporting options, she found her passion for running from an early age. Encouraged by her older sister, she joined Kilcoole AC, where her talent for running started to flourish. From a young age, McCormack was involved in various activities, but running quickly became her preferred sport. The natural beauty of Wicklow provided a perfect backdrop for her training, where she developed a love for the outdoors and an a grá for the simplicity of running.
Despite not being the standout runner in her secondary school, McCormack's dedication and love for the sport ensure her progression in the sport. She enjoyed the freedom that running offered, often training in fields and along the stony beaches near her home. Her early successes at juvenile and U23 levels hinted at her future potential in running. These early years laid a solid foundation for what would become her remarkable versatility across a variety of different distances and categories in cross country, track events, and road running.
Unprecedented Success in Cross Country
As a senior athlete, McCormack's career reached a significant milestone with back-to-back victories at the European Cross Country Championships in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, she claimed her first title in Velenje, Slovenia. Not content with a single success she retained her title following year in a snow-covered Budapest, Hungary. These wins were unprecedented at the time and confirmed her status as one of Europe's top cross-country runners. After these successes she would continue to be a force in European cross country running, taking home bronze in the 2014 and 2015 Europeans.
Olympic Journey: From Beijing to Paris
However, Fionnuala McCormack’s journey to the Olympics began much earlier back in 2008, where she competed in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the Beijing games. "I wasn’t someone who dreamed of one day being an Olympian," she admitted in an interview with the Sports Chronicle. "The first time I ever thought about going to the Olympics was in 2007 when I ran a qualifying time in the Steeplechase at a tournament in Belgium." Despite the nerves and how surreal it felt for her, McCormack's debut set the stage for a remarkable Olympic career.
Four years later, in London 2012, she participated in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 metre events, displaying her versatility and determination to compete at the highest levels, no matter what the distance was. McCormack then turned to the marathon event for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, continuously pushing her limits and again adapting to a new challenge.
The Road to Paris 2024
McCormack qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a very solid performance at the Valencia Marathon last December, finishing in 24th place and recording a time of 2:26.19, 31 seconds inside the qualifying standard of 2:26:50. What was most impressive about this is that it came just six months after she gave birth to her third child, showing an incredible comittment to the sport and her ability to balance the demanding training schedule of marathon running with her family life.
"Being a distance runner and training mostly on my own allows me to fit training in around everything else going on in my life," she explained in her February 2024 interview with the Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership.
This achievement earns her the distinction of being the first Irish female athlete to compete in five successive Olympic Games, earning her a place in the history books of Irish athletics.
Just seven days after her Olympic qualifying performance at the Valencia Marathon, Fionnuala went on to be the top Irish performer at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels. She finished fourth, demonstrating a remarkable consistency in cross country running spanning nearly two decades. It would mark her 18th appearance at the Euro Cross, another record for a female athlete.
McCormack was not part of the eight-athlete team sent to the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade in March this year and has run just two low-key races in France and Portugal in 2024 so far.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Fionnuala McCormack's journey is not just about the medals and records; it's about the passion and perseverance that define her as an athlete. Her reflections on gender equality in sports and her role as a mother add depth to her story. "I am lucky that I am in a sport where males and females are pretty much treated equally," she noted. As a role model for her children and aspiring athletes, she emphasises the importance of finding joy in the sport and persevering through tough times.
Fionnuala McCormack's legacy in Irish athletics is one of resilience, versatility, and unwavering dedication to her running.
We wish her every success in Paris.
Image: Perri Williams