Race Walker Olive Loughnane retires from International Athletics

One of Ireland's finest ever athletes, race-walker Olive Loughnane (Loughrea AC), has today announced her retirement from competitive athletics at the age of 36.

The Loughrea AC athlete has had a star studded international career that has spanned over twelve years.

From 2000-2012, Loughnane represented Ireland in four consecutive Olympic Games - 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. Her best placing came at the 2008 Games in Beijing; she finished in seventh place in the 20k walk in a personal best of 1:27:45. Loughnane has also represented Ireland at, 2 European Athletics Championships and six consecutive editions of the World Athletics Championships - 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The pinnacle of Loughnane's achievements came at the 2009 World Championships where she won a silver medal in the 20k walk in a time of 1:28:58. She is also the current Irish Record holder in the 10k Walk in a time of 43:22. She has also won multiple National titles over 3k/5k/10k/20k distances.

John Foley CEO of Athletics Ireland commented that "Olive Loughnane has made an outstanding contribution to Irish Athletics. Her achievements at national and international level have been of the highest quality. From her excellent achievement in Beijing to her incredible performance in Berlin, she has been one of Ireland's best. On behalf of Athletics Ireland and myself I want to wish her all the best for the future."

Speaking of her retirement Loughnane said "To retire from athletics was always going to be a tough decision for me. I can be happy with everything I have achieved and I have no regrets. I want to thank Athletics Ireland, the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council for all their help and support throughout my career".