Who is Phil Healy? Five things to know about the Cork runner in the Paris Olympics

From a viral video in 2016 to record-breaking runs in Tokyo, here's what you need to know

Team Ireland athlete Phil Healy. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Team Ireland has secured a place in yet another Olympic final after the women’s 4x400 relay team finished third in their heat.

The team is made up of Wexford’s Sophie Becker, Donegal’s Kelly McGrory, Tipperary’s Sharlene Mawdsley and Phil Healy, who is from none other than Co Cork.

What do we know about the Cork woman?

Phil Healy. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

Phil Healy is 29 years old and is proud of her hometown of Ballineen in west Cork. As a child, she tried out a number of different sports such as football, camogie, basketball and Irish dancing, before eventually settling on athletics.

She is a member of Bandon AC, but it wasn’t until she was 17 that she began to fully focus on the sport. From 18 onwards, she started training hard and realizing the potential she had in athletics.

Career 

Phil Healy during the women's 4 x 400m relay round 1 at the 2024 Olympics. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Healy has represented Ireland in several competitions since 2013. She has taken part in the likes of the European Championships, European Indoor Championships, World Champions, World Indoor Championships and many more.

In 2021, Healy became the first Irish female to compete in three track events at the Tokyo Olympics, making the final with the mixed 4x400 team.

Sister 

Joan and Phil Healy. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Healy was inspired to commit to athletics by her older sister, Joan, who is also an athlete.

Joan has also competed in a number of competitions and is coached by Derval O’Rourke and Marian Heffernan.

Unfortunately, an Achilles injury sidelined her for the Tokyo Olympics, and she suffered a further injury later that year.

She had plans to retire from athletics this summer.

Paris Olympics 

Phil Healy, left, and Kelly McGrory of Team Ireland  during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Following their qualification for the final on Friday morning, Healy said: “It's unbelievable to come away as Olympic finalists.

“We knew it was going be a tough ask with the draw but to come away with an automatic Q early in the morning, we can't ask for more. It's very, very special to be part of this team.” The team finished at 3:25:05, while Jamaica took victory in 3:24.92 with the Netherlands second in 3:25.03.

Speaking prior to the games, Healy said that each member has a different personality that they bring to the sport.

As she is the eldest of the group, she told Evoke.ie: “They would definitely say I'm the mammy. But even in the mix, when I was part of the Running 4, I definitely was the mammy there too. They keep me young.” They do this, she said, by getting her into TikTok.

Viral video 

In 2016, a video of Healy winning the final leg of the 4x400m relay at the Irish University Championships blew up online around the world.

It was described at the time as a “run for the ages” and restoring “some faith in athletics”.

In the clip, Healy turns into the homestretch and closes much of an 80-metre gap with the lead runners. Even the TV commentator got excited at the performance and could be heard shouting: “UCC from the depths of hell are powering through.” 

The 4x400 women’s relay final takes place on Saturday at 8.14pm.