Rhasidat Adeleke ‘so honoured’ to receive major Irish award
Rhasidat Adeleke has literally been running rings around her opponents for years, and now she’s received a major award in recognition of that fact.
The 22-year-old was ‘so honoured’ to have a Lord Mayor Award bestowed upon her at a ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House.
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Rhasidat was celebrated alongside fellow Irish greats, not only in the sporting field with retired rugby star Johnny Sexton, but in the arts with Academy Award-nominated actor Brendan Gleeson.
RHASIDAT ADELEKE. PIC: MARTIN RICKETT/PA WIRE
Unfortunately, Rhasidat was unable to attend the event due to training commitments at her University of Texas base, so instead her friends and family members attended on her behalf.
Sharing a snap of the group all dressed up, the runner wrote: ‘So honoured to receive a Lord Mayor award yesterday! Unfortunately I couldn’t be present but my amazing friends and family attended on my behalf.’
PIC: CONOR MCCABE PHOTOGRAPHY
Lord Mayor Emma Blaine touched on the fact that she was keen for the recipients of the award to include women and girls in sport.
With Rhasidat, who made waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clearly in mind, she said: ‘I have a couple of recipients tonight that represent those goals and ideals beautifully.’
PIC: RHASIDAT ADELEKE/INSTAGRAM
It took Rhasidat a moment to realise how much of a household name she had become in Ireland, given that she was living abroad in Austin, Texas.
Speaking previously to the Sunday Times, the sprinter told of the moment, in Dundrum Shopping Centre of all places, she realised her life had changed.
She said: ‘I was stopped by like 50 people and had a bunch of people around me asking for pictures and autographs and stuff.’
PIC: CONOR MCCABE PHOTOGRAPHY
Rhasidat dubbed the experience ‘insane’ because she was just doing what she ‘normally would’.
She continued: ‘But I almost forget that I have some sort of presence now. It honestly is really cool.
‘In comparison, being out here in Austin, Texas, where I can just walk around freely, nobody really knows who I am.
‘So it kind of makes me forget that I do have that presence back home. But yeah, it’s a blessing.’
