Silver star O’Rourke blasts athletics chiefs

EUROPEAN silver medalist Derval O’Rourke last night launched a blistering attack on the treatment of elite athletics in this country.

The Cork native claimed that if you “don’t paddle your own canoe in Irish athletics you are going nowhere and I think that’s a little bit sad”.

O’Rourke, who clocked 12.65 seconds, when coming second to Turkey’s Nevin Yarit in Saturday night’s 100m Hurdles final hopes her words will be heeded by Athletics Ireland chiefs ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.