Sonia lends support to exercise plan

One of Ireland’s greatest sporting legends is getting on her marks to launch an exercise initiative to encourage youths into athletics.

Four-time Olympian, Sonia O’Sullivan, who was Ireland’s Chef de Mission at the London 2012 Olympics, will be at the first Fit4Youth training camp in her native Cork tonight.

Fit4Youth is an initiative by Athletics Ireland, supported and promoted locally by the Cork Sports Partnership, which is aimed mostly at students who may not be involved in formal or team sports.

Sonia, who last week announced plans to ‘give back to her sport’ by helping young Irish athletes achieve on the world stage, said she was delighted to back the programme.

“I think this is a great idea and will be a good starting point for many young people,” she said.

“I am delighted to be able to endorse it personally tonight and hope that schools will promote it among their students to ensure that the programme continues after the initial six weeks.”

The participants will be led by qualified coaches through the basics of athletics training as well as warming up and cooling down correctly.

“This will be done in a non competitive, fun and enjoyable environment. Each student will participate at their own level and ability of fitness and will set their own personal goals for the programme,” a spokesperson said.

The exercise programme, which takes an hour each Monday, will take place at the Sonia O’Sullivan track for the next six weeks.

Sonia still holds the world record over 2,000m along with every Irish record in distances ranging from 800m to half marathon.

You can find out more about Fit4Youth, and book a place, by logging on www.corksports.ie, or email [e-mail].