McGettigan Dumas to get belated Euro bronze medal

Roisin McGettigan Dumas will receive a European Indoor Championship bronze medal from the 2009 Games at the National Athletics Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry tomorrow.

McGettigan Dumas finished fourth in the 1500m final in Turin in a tight finish five years ago. The Wicklow woman crossed the line in 4:11.58, just behind Slovenia’s Sonja Roman who ran 4:11.42.

However, following the banning of the winner Anna Alminova (Russia) for a doping violation, McGettigan was promoted to third.

Athletics Ireland were officially informed in October by European Athletics that a replacement medal would be made available for presentation. McGettigan Dumas will now enter the record books as the bronze medallist - Ireland’s 21st European Indoor medal.

The now retired Wicklow athlete made her name as steeplechaser when the event was officially put on the women’s track and field championship programme at the world championships in 2005. She made the inaugural Olympic final in the 3000 metres steeplechase in Beijing in 2008 and has the unique distinction of holding every Irish record for the 3000 metres steeplechase from her 10:42.36 in 2001 to the current record of 9:28.29 set in 2007 – breaking it 10 times.

McGettigan Dumas also holds the Irish indoor mile record (4:30.05) which she set in 2009 breaking Sonia O’Sullivan’s mark.

John Foley CEO of Athletics Ireland said: “It is right and fitting that Roisin is given an opportunity to celebrate her medal-winning performance. Roisin was a top quality international athlete who competed for Ireland with distinction for many years including at the Olympic Games as well as being an Irish record holder and now as a recorded European medallist.”