Sharlene Mawdsley: Fuelling up for a new PB in 2025

Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley officially launched the Forvis Mazars 2025 Steps Team Challenge, which kicks off on Monday, 20 January and runs until Sunday, 16 February 2025.

Irish athlete Sharlene Mawdsley had a packed 2024, participating in the World Indoor Championships, World Relays, European Championships, and the Olympics.

Her priorities for this year include staying healthy and injury-free and “to run a new personal best”.

In the meantime, she is excited to kickstart the year by participating in the Forvis Mazars 2025 Steps Team Challenge, which starts on Monday. 

“It is a great initiative that helps you prioritise both health and wellbeing.”

• See forvismazars.com/ie/steps

Do you have a morning routine?

It’s not so much a morning routine but I religiously wash my face first thing to wake myself up, and I love starting my day with a good breakfast and reading a book.

What is one thing you do every day?

Eat good food and train. I’m very boring when it comes to day-to-day life during training as my day consists of training or recovery on a rest day. 

When I am home, I have things planned and each day looks quite different. Every evening, I will write in my training diary to put my thoughts down on how the session went.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I don’t really have ‘healthy’ eating habits. I just make sure I fuel myself efficiently as I ask a lot from my body.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

Sleeping in until midday.

What keeps you awake at night?

If I don’t have my training diary or journal filled out, I end up thinking too much about training that day or things I haven’t done — I’m a big procrastinator.

How do you relax?

By going for brunch with my friends. Recovery is a big priority. I often try to sit still but I find that quite hard to do.

What’s your dream meal?

Truffle risotto with garlic bread.

Who are your sporting heroes?

Allyson Felix. I love people defying the odds and feel that Alyson did that throughout her athletics career.

What is the best health advice you’ve been given?

You need to fuel your body. It’s so important to put nutrients into your body for good health.

What is your favourite smell?

The smell of vanilla in candles or food. The perfume would be Libre by YSL.

When was the last time you cried?

I cry way too often — so, yesterday.

What traits do you least like in others?

Being late.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

Being messy.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Crying on national television.

However, I am glad that people got to see raw emotion when it comes to sport.

Not every day is going to be amazing, and sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to — and that’s OK.

What do you wish you knew when you were younger?

Enjoying what you do is so important, and you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself.

I didn’t understand how crucial it was to really fuel your body when I was a teenager. I put a lot of emphasis on it now.

Do you pray?

Sometimes.

What cheers you up if you’re having a bad day?

Chocolate.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

If I were to pick five people, I would go with Oprah, Allyson Felix, Miley Cyrus, Michelle Obama, and my mam — she would have to be in on the conversations.

What quote inspires you most and why?

‘What’s for you won’t pass you,’ because of how much adversity I feel I’ve faced. I know running is a small part of life for other people but I have made it one of the biggest parts of my life.

So when I missed out on Tokyo, I had to believe that if Paris was going to happen, it would happen for the right reasons.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

The Bahamas, when I was racing. The resort we stayed in was beautiful. For my holidays, Mykonos and Lake Como were both beautiful. I’d also love to visit Thailand.

What’s something nobody knows about you?

If I told you, then people would know.