Olive Loughnane has superb seventh place finish in 20k Walk Beijing Dispatches
By Frank Greally
(All photographs from Beijing by Ray McManus & Brendan Moran of sporstfile.com) There is something extra positive about Irish Race Walkers. There are four of them here in Beijing – each one a shining example of dedication, enthusiasm, willingness and self-belief.
This morning, Olive Loughnane had good reason to smile when she entered the mixed zone following her excellent 7th placing in the women’s 20 kilometer walk where her time of 87.45 was both a personal best as well as being inside the existing Olympic record.
This was a capable and highly admirable performance by the Galway woman – one she can be justifiably very proud of.
“I could not have given it any more,” Loughnane said. “I am just a little diaappointed not to have made it into the medals, but I know that I walked amazingly well and I am very satisfied.”
The self-coached mother of one finished 17th in the World Championships in Japan last year and has since made huge improvement
“I knew going to this event that I was in the shape of my life,” she said.”I was calm and I did not panic. I am an experienced competitor, extremely competitive and I tend to do well in championship events.”
Married to Cork man, Martin Corkery, Olive Loughnane also spoke movingly about how her two year old daughter, Eimear, had helped to inspire her to achieve this high position in an Olympic final.
“I showed Eimear my Olympic accreditation card and she was fascinated by it,”Loughnane said. “When Eimear then kissed my photo on the card, it really put a lot into perspective for me.”
Loughnane was never tempted to try and match Gold Medal winner, Olga Kaniskina of Russia who set a blistering fast pace. Her own finish was strong and her eventual 7th placing came from a fully focussed effort that she sustained all the way to the finish.
“In the closing stages, I was averaging 4.20 per kilometer,”she said.
A native of Carrabane, situated between Loughrea and Athenry, Loughnane is the second Galway native to bring much needed cheer to the Irish Track & Field Team here in Beijing. Paul Hession comes from nearby Athenry and the Galway pair can expect a big welcome home in the West on their return from Beijing.
“I have received a whole lot of help and encouragement along the way,” Loughnane said. “Athletics Ireland have been very good to me and I have great support too from my husband, Martin, as well as from both our families.”
Loughnane looked to another top Irish race walker, Robbie Heffernan, for some advice in the final training build-up to Beijing. “Robbie gave me some good and well needed advice for the last six weeks of my preparation and of course he also turned in a really great performance here,”Loughnane said.
Loughnane was well within her previous personal best (89.17) for the 20k. “I had a hard struggle last year and I feel that made me really tough,” she said. “I was well prepared and I felt very strong and mentally tough on the day.”
The Galway woman was agonisingly close to the bronze medal position here in Beijing – 1.27.45 for 7th – bronze medal time by Elisa Rigaudo of Norway – 1.27.12.
Loughnane left the mixed zone with a broad smile on her face-knowing that she had given it her all and delivered a performance that she will always be able to look back on with considerable pride.
Beijing Dispatches 2
By Frank Greally
Nice and wet
It poured rain here this morning-especially during the women’s 20k walk. This was the first rain that I have experienced here and I am reliably informed that what I thought was heavy rain was no more than a drizzle compared to the deluges they often get in the city.
The Volunteers are playing a brilliant role in making these Olympic Games a huge success. They are friendly and helpful and are doing much to create a big and lasting impression with the international media.
The area surrounding the Olympic Stadium- ‘The Bird’s Nest’- is a huge Sports Campus that includes a National Indoor Stadium and a huge swimming and water sports facility.
The Olympics are very much a ‘must see’ event for families who enjoy the carnival atmosphere – water features, music etc. around the Sports Campus.
There is a relaxed atmosphere about these Games and the security is tight but not unduly intrusive.