Sonia O’Sullivan

It might not feel that long ago but it is a quarter of a century this week since Sonia O'Sullivan wins a silver medal in the 5,000 meters at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Her silver medal win was watched by thousands of Irish men, women and children who had long hoped for victory for the proud county Cork woman. IT was a remarkable moment for her as she bounced back from the disappointment of Atlanta 1996, when illness prevented her from competing at her best. Here is how the Irish Examiner’s Brendan Mooney reported her silver medal, 25 years ago this week:

SONIA O'SULLIVAN once said she would like to be part of history— yesterday she made it. In a gutsy, glorious performance, befitting a woman who has shown tremendous character over the past four years, Sonia O'Sullivan finally exorcised the ghost of Atlanta '96, to take silver in Sydney. Prior to yesterday s race, Sonia was already the first Irish woman to win European and World championship medals, to win back to back world cross-country championship titles and set World and European records. Yesterday she entered the elite ranks of the Olympians – becoming the first Irish woman to win an Olympic medal in track and field. And she did it with such style. As workplaces came to a halt and the country held its breath, Sonia dragged herself back from another impending disaster to tackle the reigning world champion and gold medal favourite, Gabriela Szabo.

"I think I caught myself by surprise at the top of the straight," Sonia said.

"I was so close to winning. I was shocked. I nearly stopped.

"There was a point in the race where I was nearly gone but somehow, I got myself back into it again."

As the drama and suspense of the 5,000m metres unfolded, Stadium Australia was electrified with the sound of 112,000 people witnessing a pulsating finish to the best race of the Olympics so far.

Thousands of Irish immediately took to the bars of Sydney to celebrate, while Sonia set her sights on winning gold in the 10,000m.

"There is definitely something inside me that tells me I should run the 10,000m," she said. "The minute I was finished I thought about it. The race took absolutely nothing at all out of me. I feel great right now. I don't feel like it was the hardest race I've ever run.

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