SONIA O’Sullivan took in Rome’s historic sights – while also savouring seeing the present and future of Irish athletics in action.
The 2000 Olympics silver medallist was in attendance at Friday’s Diamond League meeting where Sarah Healy stormed to a first-ever victory at that elite grade.
In the lead-up to Saturday’s event she took in renowned sights like the Trevi Fountain[/caption]
She also took this ‘obligatory’ photo Stadio dei Marmi[/caption]
Sonia would be better equipped than 99.9 per cent of tourists to clock up 32k steps per day[/caption]
‘Great to be in Rome to see Sarah Healy take a big win at the Diamond League’[/caption]
The 24-year-old ran 3:59.17 to romp to victory in the 1,500m at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday night.
The Dubliner surged to the front in the last 40 metres to edge Australian duo Sarah Billings (3:59.24) and Abbey Caldwell (3:59.32).
Afterwards she beamed: “I’m obviously really happy to come away with the win.
“It was a really competitive field, I thought it wouldn’t be crazy quick and it was quite crowded, there was a lot of bodies and I was further back than I wanted to be the whole time.
“But I tried to stay patient and in the last lap I had to make a good few moves, which I was happy with, especially on the home straight.
“I know my shape is good, I ran a big 3km PB two weeks ago so I know I’m really fit.
“Hopefully a PB in the 1500m is coming for me soon but today, I just wanted to compete for the win.
“I know I’m good at hard, fast races, but races like this were more where I struggled so I’m really, really happy to win – it’s really cool.”
Healy has been edging towards victory in recent times, having finished third in the 3,000m at the Rabat Diamond League.
She will next race in 1,500m at the Paris Diamond League on June 20, and revealed the secret behind her success.
She added: “I’m having a lot of fun which is the main thing. And it’s probably why I’m running so well.”
2025 is already set up to be a stunning year for Healy, who claimed European gold as recently as March.
The Irish star dominated the 3,000m at the Euro Indoors, crossing the line in a brilliant 8:52.86, bagging her first senior international title in style.
She followed that up by finishing sixth in the same discipline at the World Indoors in Nanjing later that same month.
Healy was in contention throughout and only lost touch with the leaders in the final 400m when gold medal winner Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia kicked clear.
Healy crossed the line in 8.40.00, just 13 days after she won the European title in Apeldoorn.
She said: “It was a pretty solid race from me. I put myself in the right position from the start.
“I expected the race to be faster, it ended up being slow with a big wind-up towards the end.
“When the big move was made at three laps to go, I was a little too far back and had a lot to make up.
“I think sixth is a pretty solid result for me and I’m pretty happy with it, but it does leave me hungry for more.”
