Final bell for Sonia?

THE tall, thin frame that had belied the strength within for so many years looked tired and pained in Athens last night.

It was a physique which brought so much joy to a nation and had taken Sonia O’Sullivan to four Olympics and a collection of world and European gold medals in both track and cross-country.

But now the frame looked vulnerable and exhausted. Lapped by half the field in the Olympic 5,000m final was not how the story should have ended.

For four years, since she won that silver medal in a dashing finish with Gabriela Szabo, everyone had talked about Greece and the gold medal that would crown a magnificent career. Instead a post mortem was preformed.

She walked slowly into the gauntlet that was the world’s media ­ everyone looking for an explanation, a word, anything at all.

They had waited a while ­ maybe she would not show. It had happened before.

But this time she walked to the mixed zone, slowly, measuring her steps and perhaps gathering her thoughts. She stopped to talk to the Irish Athletics Team Manager, Michael Quinlan. The Head Physiotherapist, Dr Marie Elaine Grant went to her and they embraced. Then the Chief Medical Officer of the Olympic Council of Ireland came across to her. They spoke briefly. Everything was okay and she departed.

Another few words with Dr Grant and she turned to look down at the assembled media ­ watching, waiting.

It was going to be difficult.

She strolled past the first few. Then she stopped. She was a bit too far away for some of the tape recorders as arms stretched further than ever before.

She spoke: “I don’t really have anything to say about the race. I don’t think it was a race.”

Her voice was breaking but she continued to point out that she had not run as well as she had hoped.

We all knew that. But it was something to latch on to.

“I did not run tonight as well as I should have run. I did not feel very well,” she said.

“I just want to thank all the supporters who were in the stands tonight. I think without them I would not have finished the race.

“The Irish supporters in the stand and the Olympic Games was what got me around the track tonight.”

Would this be the end?

“It’s hard to say but it is possibly my last Olympic track race.

“It is one of those things. You come in with great hope and expectation.

“Then things don’t work out the way you want them to. I was feeling a bit sick the past two days. I don’t know to what extent but I thought it was a simple thing but obviously maybe not.

“I tried as best I could to drink and eat and get as much energy as I could but obviously it was not there tonight.

“But it is the Olympic Games and if you are a bit off your form, it shows.

“As soon as the pace was anything like it should be it showed ­ as soon as the pace was anything like it should be I just could not do anything about it.

“I just don’t know. I came here to do my best and I got to the final.

“I guess I’m going to have to find something else here to get those happy memories from.

“It’s great to be part of the Olympics and there are so many people in Ireland who try their hardest to get there. So I don’t want to say I’m not happy about being here ... I just wish the result could have been a little bit better.”

The inevitable question was posed.

“Oh Yeah, I will keep going. I mean that’s the hardest thing. I love being fit. I love training and I love racing. But I think at this level ­ I don’t know, maybe I’ve had my day.” The tall, lean figure walked away from the media throng. Maybe for the last time.