Dundalk native Israel Olatunde proudly draped himself within the Tricolour and fell to the bottom in prayer following his historic win on the European Athletics Championships in Munich on Tuesday evening.
he 20-year-old monitor and area star set a brand new nationwide document on the 100m ultimate – ending in sixth place and simply .04 seconds shy of profitable a bronze medal.
He recorded a time of 10.17 seconds – making him the quickest Irish man in historical past.
The UCD laptop science pupil beat the document set by Paul Hession in 2007 by .02 seconds and the satisfaction of his unbelievable accomplishment was evident as he actually jumped for pleasure with the Irish flag over his head and shoulders earlier than he went down on his knees and supplied a silent prayer.
Following his historic dash, he advised RTÉ Sport that his win “is simply such a blessing” and credited his coach, his coaching companions, his household, his religion and his neighborhood, for his success and “displaying me a lot love.”
He mentioned he was nonetheless in awe of being on the championships, including “I had no thought I ran that quick.”
“It is simply superb to be right here,” he mentioned, including “I do know this isn’t going to be the tip. I can undoubtedly enhance.”
Former Olympian race walker Rob Heffernan was amongst a slew of athletes and punters alike who paid tribute to him on social media following his unbelievable efficiency.
“Israel Olatunde is the quickest Irishman of all time 10.17 for 100 to interrupt Paul Hession’s nationwide document and end sixth within the European ultimate. What an amazing younger man, no worry. A breath of contemporary air. Maintain driving on my man,” Heffernan posted on Twitter.
Olatunde had already gained the title of the quickest man in Eire in June 2021 when on the age of simply 19 he was the reigning Irish senior 100m champion, profitable his first senior gold medal within the race with a private better of 10.49.
He was born in Drogheda and grew up in Dundalk to Nigerian mother and father Elizabeth and Issac who moved to Eire 21 years in the past to make a greater life for themselves.
Olatunde credited the ladies in his household for his velocity. His mom was additionally a sprinter rising up in Ogun State in Nigeria and his older sister Sharon who joined the athletics membership in Dundalk and did sprints and hurdles and adopted in her footsteps.
His mother and father moved to Eire on the finish of 1999 to begin a brand new life right here. His eldest brother, Gabriel was born in Nigeria whereas Sharon and Israel had been each born in Eire and the household settled in Dundalk.
Issac works as a safety supervisor and his mom is a care assistant.
In a earlier interview with the Irish Unbiased, Olatunde paid tribute to his hard-working mother and father whom he sees as position fashions and an inspiration for his success.
“They only needed to present us a greater alternative, for all the things – for schooling, socially, job-wise. They’ve labored so onerous ever since they got here right here. That’s one of many the reason why I work so onerous at athletics – all the things I do – simply because I do know the sacrifices they’ve made,” he mentioned.
He revealed that his household has settled effectively into Irish life however they’ve by no means forgotten their roots and his mother and father nonetheless communicate their native dialect, Yorbuba, at residence.
“Our residence is sort of a little pocket of Nigeria. My mother and father, they built-in as effectively with the Irish tradition. They’ve been residing in Eire for greater than half their lives,” he mentioned.
He has been to go to his household’s residence in Nigeria thrice thus far, which he additionally credit along with his willpower to succeed.
“At any time when we went again to Nigeria, simply seeing the place they (his mother and father) got here from, it simply provides you a unique motivation I suppose, fireplace in your coronary heart seeing the place they got here from. You generally is a lot happier with much less over there than should you had been right here.
“They (my mother and father) got here from a humble starting, however they’ve nice love for his or her nation. I nonetheless carry that love for Nigeria with me, although I’m Irish. Clearly, my nationality is Irish however on the similar time, you’ll be able to’t deny the connection it’s important to your mother and father’ homeland,” he mentioned.
“I do really feel related to each, however it’s onerous to elucidate. I really feel each worlds come along with me, I’m capable of reside the perfect of each worlds, if that is sensible?”
He additionally revealed his devotion to Christianity. Earlier than the pandemic struck, he attended the native Pentecostal church in Dundalk each week along with his household who pray collectively frequently.
Whereas he describes himself as “fairly introverted” he admits “I nonetheless love the eye,” noting how when he first acquired into athletics he has “just a few photos of myself screaming after races, going loopy. I like that type of showmanship, I suppose.
“I suppose that sounds a bit humorous, however I like that spotlight of being the quickest man in that area. Clearly, in Eire, we’ve good competitors, however I simply wish to push on now, make a reputation for myself in Europe after which transfer on to the world stage, hopefully.”
Within the meantime, he’s finding out for his laptop science diploma at UCD after being awarded an Advert Adstra Elite scholarship.
