Rhasidat Adeleke feels she now belongs amongst the world's best

It’s 28 years since an Irish athlete won a World Championship medal on the track but Adeleke goes to Budapest next month with solid claims of ending that drought

RECORD-BREAKER: Allianz Ireland ambassador and Irish record holder, Rhasidat Adeleke. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

She’d only touched down at Dublin Airport when she realised things were different. A lot has changed in Rhasidat Adeleke’s life since she was last in Ireland at Christmas, the reminder coming in the form of multiple selfie requests from strangers when she arrived back last weekend.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I feel like I’m famous or something,’” she laughs, perhaps still not aware of how fast the country has been catching up on her achievements. But this is the new normal for the 20-year-old Dubliner, who conquered the US collegiate scene last month before taking her talents to the Diamond League, finishing fourth over 400m in Monaco last Friday, clocking 49.99.