Irish runner and Olympic champion Rasheedat Adeleke has announced that she will not take part in the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, which start next month.
In a statement posted on social media on Monday evening, the Tallaght-born athlete said the current season had been much more difficult for her than she could have imagined.
“Repeated injuries and setbacks are increasingly limiting my ability to prepare and perform to my own standards,” Adelijk said.
“I regret to inform you that after another obstacle I will have to end the season early. I will devote this time to restoring my health and preparing for the new sporting year in order to return in optimal shape both physically and mentally.”
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who continues to support me. Your faith gives me strength,” she added in conclusion.
Despite successfully qualifying for the Tokyo team in two disciplines – 200 m and 400 m – the 22-year-old athlete struggled to maintain her form all season: her best result in the 400 m (50.42 sec) placed her in 26th place in the world, and her result of 22.52 sec in the 200 m – in 36th place in the ranking.
Her absence will seriously weaken the Irish team's position at the main event of the year, particularly affecting the prospects of the women's 4x400m relay team, which finished fourth at last year's Olympics.
Adelijke has twice missed the podium at major tournaments: fourth place at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest in the 400m and a similar result at the Olympic Games. In order to win her first medal at the world championship in 2025, she previously gave up the winter season, focusing on preparing for the summer competitions.
However, this year she was unable to repeat the successes of previous seasons. The athlete's last performance was fourth place in the 200 m at the Diamond League stage in London in July with a result of 22.52 seconds.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
