![Rhasidat Adeleke](/sites/default/files/styles/widescreen_television/public/2024-08/2539425-P4_RBR35917.jpg?h=ff17e03f&itok=DXaxMFcL)
Olympics 2024: Team Ireland Results 09.08.24
By Heather Boyle, OFI Head of Communications and Sinéad Naughton, OFI media liaison in Ireland
ATHLETICS
Team Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) ran her third fastest time ever of 49.28 to finish fourth in the women’s 400m final tonight in Paris, making history in the process by becoming the first Irish woman ever to contest an Olympic sprint final.
The gold medal was won by the reigning world champion and Tokyo silver medallist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in an incredible new Olympic record time of 48.17. She smashed the 28-year-old record held by French legend Josie-Marie Perec, set all the way back at the Atlanta Games. Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain stormed to silver in a season’s best time of 48.53, with reigning European champion Natalia Kaczmareck of Poland; claiming the bronze in 48.98.
Kate O’Connor; the first ever Irish heptathlete to compete at an Olympic Games concluded her seven event competition on a high with a season’s best of 2:13.25 in the gruelling 800m finale, to place 14th overall.
Afterwards she gave this reaction: “It was an enjoyable two days, a lot of highs and a lot of lows but overall very enjoyable. Seeing all those Ireland flags warms my heart, that people actually want to come out and watch me and the rest of the team.”
Twenty-three year old O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerald’s AC) had her preparation for these Games hampered by a hamstring injury last month so will be pleased with her showing in Paris.
TRACK CYCLING
Team Ireland's Lara Gillespie and Alice Sharpe secured three points, to finish 11th overall in the women's madison final at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome today. Gillespie and Sharpe, although facing strong competition from the world’s best, held their own and demonstrated the depth of talent within Irish cycling at the moment.
Lara Gillespie will be the final Irish athlete competing at the Olympic Games as she takes on the Women’s Omnium at the velodrome on Sunday.
GOLF
The Women's Individual Golf Singles continued at Le Golf National on Friday, as Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire were back on the course for round three of Paris 2024.
Meadow carded a level-par round which included four brilliant birdies on the back nine, the three-time Olympian showcasing her excellent short game to finish strongly. The Antrim golfer now sits on eight-over-par overall heading into Saturday's final round.
Maguire, meanwhile, endured another difficult day as two front nine birdies of her own were offset by four dropped shots before the turn, and then disaster struck on 15 and 16 as she carded a quadruple and triple bogey respectively. The Cavan golfer now sits on 24-over for the tournament.
Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko are sharing the lead on nine-under heading in to the final round tomorrow.