A lot of eyes in Wexford were either on the Fleadh, or on Sophie Becker today. Becker, from Wexford, featured in a 400m heat in the Olympics in Paris today. Becker came 6th in her heat, but it’s not all over yet for the Wexford woman.
Speaking after the race to RTE, she said: “I’m disappointed and a bit confused. Training has been going really well the last few weeks and definitely not representative of what you’ve seen there. I felt good up until 250, but I suppose that’s where the other girls started to come through and I started the fade. My end of the race has definitely gotten stronger the last few months, but it just didn’t show there. It’s tough. It’s the Olympics, nothing’s going to be easy here,” she said.
She also praised the travelling Irish and Wexford supporters: “It’s so nice. To get that big of a cheer, it’s amazing. There’s Irish fans – there’s Irish people. I could hear people shouting up Wexford from every corner of the stadium,” she said.
Looking ahead, she believes she has “nothing to lose” and that she’s “ready to go.”
Sophie Becker: The Irish Sprinter at the Olympics
Sophie Becker is a sprint athlete from Ireland who's set to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics. She was born on May 16, 1997, in Wexford. The Irish athlete competes in a number of different events, but mainly specializes in the 400m sprint and the 4x400m relay. She was selected for the Ireland team for the 2024 European Athletics Championships in June 2024, to run both the individual 400 metres and the relay. The relay team qualified fastest for the final. Sophie went on to win silver in a national record time with her teammates Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy, and Sharlene Mawdsley. Later that month Sophie went on to win the Irish Championships 400 metres title in Dublin. She then qualified for the individual 400 metres at the Paris Olympics.
Sophie Becker's Background and Education
Sophie is from Ballykelly in County Wexford. She went to school in New Ross, and later went on to study at Dublin City University, where she graduated with a degree in genetics and cell biology. It won't be the first time Sophie's represented Ireland at the Olympics when she appears in Paris 2024. She took part in the 4x400 metre relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After qualifying for the final, the quartet eventually finished in 8th place. She'll be hoping for a medal this time round when she returns to compete in the individual round.
Sophie Becker's Olympic Journey: From Heat to Final
Sophie will be competing in the Paris games once they've got underway on Friday, July 26, 2024. The women's 400m events begin with the first round on Monday, August 5. A repechage for those who did not automatically make it through to the semi-finals takes place the following morning. The semi-finals take place on Thursday, August 9, with Sophie hoping to make it all the way to the final, which takes place on Friday, August 9, at 7pm BST.
As a 400 metre runner Sophie is also part of the relay squad. She could be picked to race in the mixed 4 x 400 relay, with heats on Friday, August 2, and the final on Saturday, August 3. The women's 4 x 400 metre heats are on the morning of Friday August 9 before the final the day after.
Ready to Go
Sophie Becker is facing a daunting task, but she is determined to make the most of the opportunity. Becker is ready for the challenge, and she is prepared to put in the work to reach her full potential at the Olympics. The Irish crowd is behind her, and she has the potential to do something special. It is possible to achieve big goals when you are determined and committed to your goals.
