Rhasidat Adeleke has stood behind her international teammate Sharlene Mawdsley after she was controversially disqualified from the 400m at the world indoor championships last weekend.
A big talking point from this week has been the disqualification of Irish runner Sharlene Mawdsley from her 400m final. The runner entered her semi-final as the lowest ranked of her six opponents before finishing within the top three positions. However, she was then disqualified from the competition when the Austrian representatives lodged a complaint of an illegal manoeuvre of obstruction during the race. After the Irish contingent appealed the complaint, they achieved no success and Mawdsley was stripped of a first global final.
Speaking on Wednesday while being unveiled as an ambassador for KPMG, Adeleke expressed her sympathy at witnessing the disqualification:
I ended up seeing a video of it. I feel like that's just so normal in indoor running. I seen a couple of comments that they were picking and choosing when they wanted to apply that rule. So I just feel she shouldn't have been disqualified for that. I think in the running, there's always going to be a bit of pushing. It was just very unfortunate and unlucky because I think she definitely deserved it.
SEE ALSO: Sharlene Mawdsley Was Emotional After Earning 'Redemption' For Heartbreaking DQ
SEE ALSO: Ireland's Sharlene Mawdsley Robbed Of World 400m Final Due To Controversial DQ
The Irish sprinter said he was following last weekend's world championships from Glagow closely on social media with the Ireland 4 x 400m relay team making history at the Glasgow World Championships and becoming fifth in the world. She also commented on the suggestion of the team reaching a medal stage if she had participated in the relay team at the weekend.
It was so exciting. It's amazing to see that we can really get up there to be medal contenders. Ireland is always known [for] distance, but definitely a force to be reckoned with in the relays now. I think they're definitely proved that over the years from the Olympics to world championships, always making finals, it's becoming consistent now. It was just superb, fifth in the world is amazing.
It's really good to see Ireland being very competitive. For such a small nation we are doing so well for ourselves. It's so motivating because as everyone else does so well it's motivating me to do well too.
Who knows? You could say if I was there but anything can happen. They did exactly what they were capable of and I'm just really proud of them. I love that we are one of the smaller nations and you could be saying not to worry about them. But I think people are starting to see we can be very competitive on a European stage and a World stage.
The 21 year old, announced as an ambassador for KPMG this week, discussed her decision with coach Edrick Floreal to not partake in the championships last week and remained at the training base at the University of Texas.
I feel like because I know what the plan is, I'm glad I'm getting hard work in. If I had went I would probably have to taper a bit, and come back fatigued and miss another week of training. It's playing well for me because I'm going to be ready when I need to be ready.
The two-year partnership will see Rhasidat come on board as KPMG’s newest sporting ambassador as she looks to build on her incredible achievements to date.
Wednesday, 6th March 2024: Pictured is KPMG’s newest ambassador and one of Ireland’s leading athletes, Rhasidat Adeleke as she builds towards an exciting summer. KPMG is a long-term supporter of women’s sport in Ireland and this new two-year partnership with Rhasidat Adeleke will see them build on their current sponsorship portfolio which includes the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and partnerships with Leona Maguire and Rachael Blackmore
