In June 2023, Michael Cornyn lay in a hospital bed at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, fighting a serious battle with sepsis. As he gazed out the window, his thoughts drifted to running, an activity that seemed almost impossible at the time. Less than a year later, Cornyn's journey from the brink of despair to the podium at the European Masters Championships Non Stadia is nothing short of inspirational.
After being sidelined for months, Cornyn was finally cleared to resume training in September 2023. His first goal was ambitious: to run the Dublin City Marathon. Starting with short, tentative jogs of just 800 metres, he slowly rebuilt his endurance. By October, his training had ramped up to an impressive 140km per month, allowing him to complete the Dublin Marathon successfully—a feat in itself considering his recent health scare.
With the marathon behind him, Cornyn shifted his focus to Masters events and shorter distances, specifically the 400m for the Irish Indoor Championships in January 2024. His determination paid off as he claimed a silver medal in the 400m event. Buoyed by this success, he then set his sights on the European Indoor Championships in Poland, where he competed in the M60 Cross Country, the 200m, and the 4x200m relay, helping his team secure a 4th place finish in the cross country event.
However, the pinnacle of Cornyn's comeback was yet to come. The European Masters Non-Stadia Championships, held on the island of Porto Santo, was his next big challenge. This event saw a small Irish team of nine athletes compete in various disciplines, including a 10k road race, cross country relays, a half marathon, and road race walks.
Shortly before the competition, Cornyn suffered a hamstring tweak that forced him to modify his training, focusing on biking and swimming while incorporating gentle running. Weekly physiotherapy sessions and daily exercises were crucial in his effort to make it to the start line.
The physiotherapist’s advice was clear: it might be possible to manage one race, but two could be too much. Despite this, Cornyn was determined to compete, particularly in the 10k road race, where hopes were high for a team medal. The race, which started at 8am on a relatively flat, out-and-back course stretching almost half the length of the island, was fiercely contested by seven teams.
In a dramatic and challenging race, Paul Cowie finished 7th overall in the M60 category, while Tom O'Connor secured 13th place. Cornyn, despite battling a tightening hamstring and suffering a tear with just one kilometre to go, pushed through the pain to finish 25th. His grit and determination were rewarded when the Irish team clinched a bronze medal, finishing ahead of Great Britain, with Portugal and Italy taking gold and silver, respectively.
Although the hamstring injury forced Cornyn to withdraw from the M60 3x2k cross country relay the following day, he left Porto Santo with a sense of pride and accomplishment. His journey from a hospital bed to a European podium is a testament to his resilience, determination, and love for the sport. As he returned to Ireland, he carried not only a bronze medal but also unforgettable memories from an island discovered by Christopher Columbus, a place that now holds a special significance in Michael's own extraordinary journey.
Featured Images: Courtesy of Michael Cornyn