Loughnane fails to finish 20km walk
In the absence of world silver medallist Gillian O’Sullivan, who withdrew as a result of an injury last week, she was Ireland’s sole competitor in the event but struggled from the onset.
“She just did not feel well,” said Irish Athletics team manager Michael Quinlan.
“She did not have a good night and got very little sleep.”
Ireland will have only one athlete in action at the Olympic Stadium today when Paul Brizzel goes in the first round of the men’s 200m.
He targeted a top 16 place coming here but his chances of achieving that were diminished somewhat when he drew Lane 1 in the very first heat yesterday.
He will have Juan Pedro Toledo of Mexico outside him while, on his best performance, Stephane Buckland from Mauritius and Johan Wissman of Sweden would be capable of outclassing him.
His coach, Mike McFarlane, who has coached some of the world’s best, flew in from London last week to help him with his final preparations.
At the world championships in Paris last year he qualified for the quarter finals and ran 20.56 for fourth place just missing out on a place in the semifinals but posting his A standard for the Olympics.
He holds all 100m and 200m national records at 10.35 secs and 20.54 secs.
Round 2 of the 200m will be held this evening at 6pm.
Meanwhile Andy Lee paid his first visit to downtown Athens yesterday with boxing coach Billy Walsh and team manager Sean Canavan.
He took time out to reflect on his Olympic experience and, while he lost his middleweight contest on Saturday evening, he said he just could not wait to compete in another Olympics.
“I wish they were next year again,” he said. “It was disappointing to lose all right but the whole Olympic experience was great and I would love to do it all over again.”
He has already had offers to turn professional but admitted yesterday he would love another shot at the Olympics.
“I will only be 24 in four years time and I am hoping that I can get a sponsor so that I can stay in the sport,” he said. “There is always the opportunity to turn professional. But we have a very good structure in place in boxing right now. Gary (Keegan) has everything organised and Billy (Walsh) is a great coach.
“It has to be full time at this level and the money is the problem. You need money to live.”
John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, said yesterday that they should do everything in their power to keep him around for Beijing 2008. “He will be one of our leading medal hopes then,” he said.
