Pain and pride in the mixed zone: Adeleke processes defeat immediately

By the time Rhasidat Adeleke had entered the mixed zone, the tone had changed. The frustration remained, now it had a channel.

Rhasidat Adeleke of Team Ireland after the women's 400m final at the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Olympics mixed zone, where athletes face journalists, is a revealing place. Every competitor has to make the walk. After Ireland's hopes of a medal in women's rugby sevens were dashed, one exasperated sentence articulated a widespread sentiment: “Exactly what I want to do right now.” 

At every Games, the way that each venue is designed means that athletes cannot leave the arena without passing the cameras and the microphones, but nobody is obliged to stop. There are hierarchical levels to be navigated, starting with broadcasters, moving to rights holders and finishing with the rest.