Fionnuala McCormack qualifies for fifth Olympic Games

McCormack competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in the 5,000m and 10,000m at London 2012, then raced the marathon both in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

FIFTH OLYMPIC GAMES: Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack has qualified for her fifth Olympic Games after clocking 2:26:19 at the Valencia Marathon this morning. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Fionnuala McCormack has become the first Irishwoman to qualify for five Olympics after clocking 2:26:19 at the Valencia Marathon this morning. That was comfortably below the automatic qualifying standard of 2:26:50 and ensures a spot at the Paris Games next summer for the 39-year-old, who came home in 34th place. The race was won by Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa in 2:15:51.

On a cool, calm day in the Spanish city, McCormack set off at a swift, steady tempo, covering the first 10km in 34:21 and the next in 34:17 before hitting halfway in 1:12:23. She slowed significantly through the fourth 10km section, covered in 35:10, but fought strongly through the final kilometres to dip well below the required standard and book her place in Paris.