Sharlene Mawdsley withdraws from European Championships 400m with injury

Sharlene Mawdsley will miss the European Championships in Birmingham after failing to recover from a hamstring tear. The 27-year-old athlete had been racing against time to be fit for the event, having sustained the injury two weeks prior at the National Championships.

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I’m so sad to say that I won’t be making the start line at the European Championships next week. We made huge progress after I was diagnosed with a tear in my hamstring, but unfortunately the timing just wasn’t on my side.

Mawdsley had been in strong form this season, running inside the European A-standard for the 400m six times and achieving a personal best of 50.06 seconds, ranking her fifth in Europe. Despite her team's around-the-clock efforts and pushing limits, the timing of the injury proved insurmountable.

"I’m so sad to say that I won’t be making the start line at the European Championships next week," Mawdsley stated. "We made huge progress after I was diagnosed with a tear in my hamstring, but unfortunately the timing just wasn’t on my side." She extended gratitude to her medical team, Martina McCarthy, Paul Carragher, Athletics Ireland, and training partner Michael Breen for their support.

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I can’t thank my team enough. They have worked around the clock to give me every possible chance, and we really pushed the limits together. To Martina McCarthy, Paul Carragher and Athletics Ireland, thank you for all your support, and to Michael Breen for being my training partner these last two weeks.

Mawdsley was also slated to compete in the women's 4x400m relay as part of a 47-strong Irish squad. Athletics Ireland is expected to name a reserve for the relay, though confirmation is pending. The athlete, who turns 28 on the opening day of the championships, was also set to receive a bye to the 400m semi-finals due to her high European ranking.

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We’ll keep working hard, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track later this season. Down, not out.