Philip Becker, the proud father of Sophie Becker, European Championships medalist, expressed his admiration for the long and challenging path his daughter had taken to success. He kept his gaze fixed on the arrivals board at Dublin Airport’s Terminal two, barely shifting his gaze as he spoke of Sophie’s journey filled with hardships.
The jubilant father shared the overwhelming pride he held for the entire team, particularly praising the quartet of girls who, in his words, ran a phenomenally astonishing race, much to the delight of the horde of supporters waving Irish flags at the terminal.
In New Ross, Co Wexford, where they reside, and across the nation, a rising level of enthusiasm was apparent, as people rallied support for the athletes. Philip Becker spoke highly of the exhilarating atmosphere and thrill that had enveloped everyone.
Observing the arrivals board and anxiously waiting for his daughter’s emergence, he delineated the hard work, dedication and commitment Sophie had poured into her training since her early days as a passionate runner. He expressed his overflowing pride for his daughter even as their plane was delayed from Rome and the crowd at the terminal continued to swell.
Emily McElarney, an impassioned athletics enthusiast and Lusk Athletic Club member, recounted the past week’s events as utterly amazing, even inspiring. In her words, it was breathtaking to see Ireland claim victory.
Likewise, Claire O’Reilly shared her experience of repeatedly watching the races from Rome, while still bursting with excitement with every replaying. Reflecting on Sonia O’Sullivan’s legacy who long served as a role model, she mentioned how accustomed they had become to rerun the footage of her gold-winning run and her tears.
She expressed delight at having plenty of victorious moments from the week to replay, scream, and celebrate, even being aware of the results.
Upon spotting Sharlene’s travel update on social media, she made a swift dash to Dublin Airport to express her support when they landed. O’Reilly spoke fondly about the great inspiration the athletes are providing for their daughters, expressing pride in witnessing Irish female athletes executing at an exceptional level on the TV.
The moment finally arrived; Becker and Mawdsley emerged through the airport doors to be greeted by a cheering crowd consisting of fans, family, and coaches. Sophie Becker, during her interaction with the media, expressed her joy and relief on returning home and sharing their success with the dear ones who stood by them during hardships, as it added a sense of reality to the entire experience.
“Everything,” she affirmed of what it meant to her.
Mawdsley, reflecting on the supportive journey they had and the joy of returning home with a silver medal, deemed it to be unparalleled. She further noted the immense satisfaction they derived from bringing a smile to people’s faces, and the potential impact their achievement could have on encouraging more participation in sports.
Though they had just returned home, the athletes declared that their rigorous preparation wouldn’t halt. Mawdsley also revealed that their eyes were already set on Paris for their next endeavour, particularly since she missed out on the previous Olympics, making this opportunity all the more crucial.
Martina McCarthy, who leads performance support at the Sport Ireland Institute and works extensively with coaches and athletes across various fields, praised the team’s inspiring performance. She highlighted the exceptional feat of the team of securing their deserving rewards after their hard work, and in doing so creating hope for aspiring athletes in Ireland.