In 2011, Great Britain’s Jodie Williams won the sprint double at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn. Ten years later, Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke followed in her footsteps to claim 100M and 200M gold in the very same venue.
? 100m
? 200m
It's been all about Rhasidat Adeleke ?? in Tallinn! ✨#Tallinn2021 pic.twitter.com/yfxapv3o4n— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 17, 2021
After storming to victory in the 100M the day before, Rhasidat Adeleke sealed the sprint double in truly remarkable fashion. The current University of Texas athlete led from the bend and her flawless running style saw edge out her nearest rival Minke Bisschops in second place by 0.65s.
Adeleke time saw her seal a new Irish Senior record of 22.90s, improving her own senior record by .06s. The Tallaght star also set a new U20 World Lead in the process. The fastest U20 woman in both the 100M and 200M – she turns 19 year’s old next month.
Wow.
Rhasidat Adeleke claims 200M ? to add to her 100M ? at the U20 European Championships.
She simultaneously breaks the Irish Senior record with a time of 22.90s.
The first athlete to achieve the women’s 100m and 200m double for a decade.
pic.twitter.com/WIEU5plHF1— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) July 17, 2021
The Tallaght AC runner broke onto the scene in 2017 at just 14 years-old, where she won the junior sprint double at the Irish National Schools Championships. Four years later, Adeleke holds FIVE underage gold medals – 100M U20 European Champion, 200M U20 European Champion, 100M European Youth Olympics, 200M European Youth Olympics, 200M U18 European Champion.
With all those accolades comes expectation and pressure but Adeleke is unfazed. From an interview done with Her Sport in 2019, her modesty, maturity and calmness was evident. Additionally, she has a great support network of coaches including Ireland's National Sprints Coordinator, Daniel Kilgallon and Texas Longhorns coach Edrick Floréal.
In recent months, Adeleke has been in flying form. After breaking the Irish Junior 400m indoor record in February, Adeleke broke the Irish Junior 200m record for the second time in two weeks earlier in April. The former European Athletics U18 Championship gold medallist then ran a wind assisted (+2.7) 200M in 23.00 at the Texas Invitational. On her return to Ireland, Adeleke posted a lightning 100M time of to win the Irish Senior Title at the National Athletics Championships – just 0.1s off Phi Healy’s All-Time Irish record.
"I’m just so happy to be able to come here and perform and do my country proud." - Rhasidat Adeleke gives her reaction after a stunning gold medal at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn. #rtesport pic.twitter.com/gWeoKQD9hH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2021
In other athletics news, Sharlene Mawdsley took first place Rasschaert, Belgium, with a new personal best of 51.70s. Claire Mooney was also victorius in the 800M in Finland, with a time of 2:04.04.
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