With the heat turned high, Rhasidat Adeleke was ice cool

ICE COOL: Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke ahead of the race on Monday: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

On the biggest stage of her life, with the heat turned high, Rhasidat Adeleke was ice cool.

The 21-year-old Dubliner sauntered to victory in the opening round of the women’s 400m at the Stade de France yesterday, turning in a performance that was as controlled as it was classy, easing down well before the finish and still clocking a swift 50.09.

“That felt really calm and relaxed,” she said. “I’ve been here for a week so I was kind of itching to run but it felt amazing. I’m really excited for the next round.”

Speed has long been Adeleke’s greatest weapon and she made sure to utilise it, powering through the first 100m in 12.02 and hitting 200m in 23.40, well ahead of the 23.69 she split in the European final in June.

“I feel like my first 200 was pretty calm,” she said. “I didn’t go too aggressive.”

By then, the race was fully within her command, Adeleke having a built a lead over chief rival Alexis Holmes of USA. The Dubliner began looking around halfway down the home straight and had slowed to a relative jog by the time she hit the finish, with Holmes taking second in 50.35.

“I just wanted to see where I could relax, shut down,” she said. “That’s what my coach told me to do: ‘As soon as you can shut down, shut down.’ We have two more rounds so hopefully we’ll be looking forward to that. I didn’t want to use too much energy, just wanted to do what I needed to qualify.

“Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend what (the Olympics) really is because I guess I’ve been building up to this for so long,” she said.

“And sometimes it's expected as a given and the way I am. I’m not happy to participate, I want to achieve my goals. My goal wasn’t just to come to the Olympics, my goal was to do something special. And that’s what my goal will remain.”

There was less joy for her Irish teammates Sharlene Mawdsley and Sophie Becker, who both fell short of the automatic top-three qualification in their heats. Mawdsley clocked a lifetime best of 50.71 to finish fourth, advancing her to this morning’s repechage at 10.20am Irish time, where a top-two finish can get her into the semi-finals.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “You run a PB, it’s the standard for next year’s Worlds, and you don’t make the semi-final. But I’m happy. I think I really committed to it. I’m really proud of myself for that performance.

"Had I been in a different heat I would have qualified automatically, which is a bit annoying, but we all know I love running so I have another round tomorrow to try and get into the semi.”

Becker finished sixth in her heat in 51.84, having turned for home in contention with the top three.

“It’s disappointing,” said Becker. “I was hoping for a good bit faster than that. To make a semi or run a PB or both is obviously what I’d like to do. I’m happy with my first 250m.

"I ran that really well, I put myself in the mix and then I think I kind of was overthinking a bit going with them. It wasn’t a terrible run, it just wasn’t a run I wanted at the Olympics.”

A trio of Irish athletes will be in action in the 1500m heats this morning, with Sophie O’Sullivan first up at 9.05 Irish time followed by Sarah Healy at 9.17 and European champion Ciara Mageean at 9.29. 

A top-six finish will secure them a semi-final spot, with the rest going into the repechage.