Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Louise Shanahan (Athletics)

Qualified for Tokyo in the most dramatic of fashions

Louise Shanahan   celebrates the national title win that secured her place in Tokyo. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Louise Shanahan celebrates the national title win that secured her place in Tokyo. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Age:24

Event: 800m

Club: Leevale AC

A PhD researcher in quantum physics at Cambridge University, her father Ray was also Irish 1,500m indoor champion. Shanahan secured her place at the Games in the most dramatic of fashions, the bonus points achieved from her national 800m title proving vital in her quest for Olympic qualification. Shanahan was ranked 51st going into the national championships before moving inside that all important top-48 positions with the gold medal display in a time of 2:03.62. Won the national 1,500m title in 2020 and went on to secure an 800m best of 2:01.44 at the Mary Peters Track, Belfast in May.

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Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics