NOT many people in the last 18 months could attest to have been saved or helped because of the onset of the pandemic. The world works in mysterious ways, as joy can come from even such a horrid outcome.
Such was the case for Limerick Olympian Sarah Lavin. Having suffered three tears in her ankle ligaments in the run up of the 2020 Olympics, when it was originally scheduled in the year in its name. The Injury described as Lavin as the worst injury of her career, all but ended her Olympic dream in Tokyo, but March 2020 rolled around, and albeit selfishly waiting for the games to be postponed, the 24th of March carried the golden words of Postponement “beyond 2020, but not later than the summer of 2021”
A golden ticket handed on a plate of others dashed hopes. The Limerick woman however intended to use the lifeline as much as she could. Shaving second after second on her personal bests to continually rise in the world rankings, to take full advantage of the time given, until the dawn of the games in the Summer of 2021. Which Lavin qualified based on her world ranking. Accomplishing the goal of attending a games, at the second time of asking, having come up short in Rio, years previous.
At her honouring by Limerick City and County council, for representing Limerick at the Olympic games, I chatted with the Lisnagry native about the Injury and preparation for the games in 2021.
“Yeah, it’s funny how it worked, that in many ways my stars aligned really well. And I’m so grateful for that because there’s so many athletes out there who work equally as hard as i do, or for some reason just didn’t happen this time. All I can say is that it’s these moments where right now it’s been overwhelming gratitude. I’ve been on the other end of the too. In 2016, it takes a lot to build yourself back into mentally being strong enough.”
On how she sharpened her time to under 13 seconds, a time quick that if maintained is more than quick enough to the Final in the 2024 games. She had this to say: “Yeah, it’s funny, my PB before this year was 13.23, and on 12 different occasions. This summer I ran under it. The 12.95 happened in June, and perhaps if has hadn’t done it i wouldn’t have made the games at that exact moment.”
“So, although I would obviously have loved to have thrown that out in Tokyo, it wasn’t to be for some reason, I think in hindsight, looking back, I probably wouldn’t go a month without racing I really thrive off, regular racing. But even in recent weeks I’ve been consistent at a 13.0 These are all things I would have dreamt of before this year. So collectively I’ve had 8 PBS between indoors and outdoors, finished 9th at the European indoors, pushed my world ranking from 57 to 27, these are all massive milestones for me and I’m sure if somebody watching on, at the end of the day the only currency any of us want to speak in is medals but that can’t happen for everyone directly overnight.
Looking forward to the coming years, Sarah Lavin had the following to say: “It’s been very progressive season, very, very grateful to my coach and for her patience, I’m hoping to I’m coming into my prime. Obviously you don’t know what every year is going to bring and that’s why I maintained racing for those few weeks after the Olympics just to maximise the form i was in. So, you’re constantly thinking ahead again like COVID You don’t know what next year is going to bring.”
