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AS her race at the ongoing Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games draws closer, Rachel O’Donoghue hopes to be among the top ranked athletes as she competes with some of the best talent from across the globe.
The upcoming triathlon star is one of the 12 athletes carrying the nation’s hope in Senegal. Her race is scheduled for Friday.
“I am just hoping for a good lead-up to the race, staying hydrated, obviously not getting sick. These are all things that you can’t control, but you just hope for the best,” said O’Donoghue.
She is confident of the work she has put in for this competition and is aware of the task ahead.
“Of course, I mean, everyone wants to do well.
“I think with all the training, I obviously want to be up there, do well, compete with the top girls, but we will see how it goes.
“I have had a good lead-up so far, hard training, good recovery. So yeah, it’s good.”
The 16-year-old is under the guidance of national coach Pamela Fulton, who also expressed confidence on her build-up to the Youth Olympics.
“I am very pleased with Rachel’s race preparation going into the most important race of her career to date, being YOG26.
“Placing top 10 overall at YOG would be a good result for Rachel.
“She is ranked 8th and will line up alongside other strong ladies she has not competed against before,” said Fulton.
Fulton noted that above all, the Games are also an opportunity to gain experience for the young athlete.
“This is an incredible and exciting opportunity for Rachel to gain experience, test herself against the world’s best and come home having made new friendships.”
In some of the results so far, swimmer Alexis Johnsen placed fourth in the women’s 100m freestyle in 59.23 seconds, in heat eight of the nine heats that were lined up yesterday.
The fastest eight athletes from the heats proceeded to the final.
Johnsen was ranked 12th overall. She is expected back in the pool for the 50m freestyle tomorrow.
On Sunday, Daniella Viki had posted a personal best of 5 minutes 02.74 seconds in the women’s 400m freestyle and was ranked 19th overall.
Competing for the first time in rowing coastal beach sprints, women’s solo, Arianna Robinson wrapped up her participation with a personal best of 3 minutes 03.96 seconds in the second time trial on Sunday.
She had posted a time of 3 minutes 31.27 seconds in the first-time trial the day before when the competition got underway.
Robinson managed to improve her time although she could not make it to the knockout stage. She finished 20th overall.
