Irish sprinter Sharlene Mawdsley has been forced to pull out of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham after tearing her hamstring at last month’s national championships.
The Newport AC athlete picked up the injury during the national championships and had been hoping to recover in time for the Europeans, but the damage was too severe to allow her to compete at the Birmingham event next week.
It is a bitter blow for Mawdsley, who had been in strong form heading into the summer season. The hamstring tear rules out any chance of her lining up at what would have been a major championship opportunity on the European stage.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky for sprinters, with the muscle group under serious strain during explosive short-distance events. Recovery timelines can vary, and the priority now will be making sure Mawdsley gets the time she needs to heal properly rather than rushing back and risking a more serious setback.
The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham is one of the biggest events on the continental calendar, and missing out through injury will be a tough pill to swallow for the Tipperary woman. She had earned her place in contention through consistent performances on the track and will now be forced to watch from the sidelines.
The focus for her camp will shift to getting her back to full fitness as quickly as possible, with an eye on future competitions later in the season.