Louise Shanahan (born 26 January 1997) is an Irish athlete.[2][3] She competed in the women's 800 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[4] Shanahan obtained a BSc degree in physics from the University College Cork (Cork, Ireland) in 2019.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 26 January 1997 Cork, Ireland[1] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | 800 metres |
Biography edit
When she was growing up, Shanahan's father, Ray, was her coach, until she moved to England.[5] In 2013, Shanahan became the European Youth Champion in the 800 metres.[6] However, after breaking a bone in her foot in 2015, she struggled to maintain her form.[6] Despite this, she was the Irish 1500m champion in 2021.[5] Her father was also an Irish national champion in the 1500 meters,[7] making them the first father and daughter to become national champions in Ireland in that event.[8]
From February 2021, she began to improve her performances in an attempt to take part in the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, after the World Student Games were cancelled.[6] She made the qualification for the Ireland Olympic team following results in Europe ahead of the Games.[6] At the beginning of 2021, she had targeted a place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[9][5]
Outside of sport, Shanahan graduated from the University of Cork,[10] and is completing a PhD in physics at Trinity College, Cambridge.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Louise Shanahan". Tokyo 2020. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Louise Shanahan". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Louise Shanahan". RTE. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Athletics - Round 1 - Heat 3 Results". Tokyo 2020. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Louise Shanahan: Achieving Her Olympic Dream Three Years Ahead Of Schedule". Her Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d ""I'm in the shape of my life": In Conversation with Olympic Athlete Louise Shanahan". Varsity. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Louise Shanahan (Athletics)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Women in Sport: Louise Shanahan running ahead of schedule towards Tokyo". Echo Live. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Louise Shanahan takes pride after achieving Games dream for Ireland". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "The athletes and scientists who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Archy Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "UCAPP Athlete, Louise Shanahan, selected for Tokyo Olympics". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
