Sonia: I may run for Aussies at Commonwealth Games

IRELAND’S former world champion and Olympic 5000m silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan may run for Australia at next year’s Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

O’Sullivan, 35, was named “the greatest living Irish sportsperson” in a nationwide poll last year and is in the process of applying for Australian citizenship.

O’Sullivan’s partner and coach Nick Bideau is Australian, and her daughters are Australian citizens. She spends half of every year living and training down under.

Under Commonwealth Games regulations, if a passport arrives on time, O’Sullivan could represent Australia next March and then run for Ireland the following week at the world cross-country championships in Japan.

O’Sullivan said: “If it fits in and it was going to be sitting happy with everyone here (in Australia) and in Ireland then I’d be happy to do it because I’ve spent a lot of the last ten years in Australia.”