SARAH Lavin is in the form of her life at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which she helped open yesterday (Friday) evening as Team Ireland flag bearer with Offaly golfer Shane Lowry.
The 30-year-old will compete in the 100m hurdles, the opening round heats of which are not set to take off until August 7.
Over the last while, Lavin (Emerald AC) has produced stirring performances with wins at the National Championships and in the likes of the Morton Games and Cork City Sports.
After the retention of her National title, Lavin commented: “I think I’m where I want to be, ahead of where I was last year, and obviously you want to peak at the Olympics. I obviously want to be in a global Final, and it will require going somewhere I haven’t gone before, but this is a good place to be today.”
Her time in the Nationals was a scintillating 12.79 seconds, a new Championship record.
Lavin was a bronze medalist at the 2023 European Championships in Poland.
Noelle Morrissey is a long-time coach to Limerick’s soon-to-be two-time Olympian.
In times long past, Limerick athletes have won aplenty at the Olympics, namely through John Flanagan (three gold and one silver, Hammer, Paris 1900/ St Louis 1904/ London 1908), Paddy Leahy (one silver and one bronze, High and Long Jump, Paris 1900), Con Leahy (one gold and two silver, High Jump, Athens 1906, London 1908), Pat Ryan (one gold and one silver, Hammer, Antwerp 1920), and Tim Ahearne (one gold, Triple Jump, London 1908).
Those famous sons of Limerick hailed from Kilbreedy/Martistown (Flanagan), Colmanswell (Paddy/Con Leahy), Pallasgreen (Ryan), and Athea (Aherne).
Of significant local interest also in France will be Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), who will compete in the 400m, along with being part of a couple of relay teams.
Let the Games begin.
