It’s not a fairytale. It’s sport. And it’s been amazing

Yesterday I announced my retirement from competitive athletics. In this column I want to expand on my decision. It’s still quite raw and I’m a little emotional, but here goes my attempt to articulate it.

I love being a professional track athlete. It is, in my opinion, the most amazing and exhilarating job I could have dreamed of and I was in the privileged position of being able to do that for the past decade.

For me, performing at my best for Ireland with the pressure on was one of the best things in life. I relish the battle on the track and my love for it hasn’t waned over the years.