Expectations high for Irish athletes at the European Championships

HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley have the beating of any female duo in Europe, but how they’re backed up in each race will prove critical. They produced a spectacular showing at the World Relays in The Bahamas last month, joining Thomas Barr and Cillín Greene to obliterate the Irish mixed 4x400m record and win bronze. Pic: Erik van Leeuwen/Sportsfile

It takes a special athlete to win gold at the European Championships, and for all the Irish greats who’ve tried over the past 90 years, that roll of honour is remarkably short. Sonia O’Sullivan. That’s it.

But over the next six days at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, that could change. Rarely has an Irish team gone to the Europeans wielding such firepower. In truth, winning one or two medals would be an underperformance for this team. Three are expected. Four is realistic. Five? It’s possible.