Awesome Adeleke left with mix of pride and regret

2022 European Championships, Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany 17/8/2022 Women’s 400m Final Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke finishes fifth Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Rhasidat Adeleke couldn’t help herself. Turning for home in last night’s European 400m final, she found herself in a tie for third and that’s when the thought dawned. Don’t tighten up, keep going. Looking back 10 minutes later, she felt that was when a medal started to slip from her fingers. When she actually did start to tighten up.

She was still the fifth of the eight involved to cross the line — and in a new Irish record time of 50.53. It is an achievement of monumental proportions for the 19-year old and yet she couldn’t shake that sense of regret. When she looked at the big screen for confirmation she could only shake her head.