At just 22 years old, Rhasidat Adeleke has already cemented her place as one of Ireland’s greatest athletes. Born on August 29, 2002, in Dublin, Adeleke proudly represents Ireland while honoring her Yoruba heritage, tracing her roots to Western Nigeria.
The Yoruba community in Ireland has grown significantly over the years, from 10,100 in 2011 to an even larger presence today. Adeleke stands as a shining example of this vibrant diaspora.
A Rapid Rise to Europe’s Sprinting Elite
A two-time gold medalist at the 2021 European Athletics U20 Championships, Adeleke has rapidly matured into a world-class competitor. From setting the Irish 400m record at 49.07 seconds to becoming a perennial fixture in Olympic and World Championship finals.
The list of accolades seems endless: fourth at the Paris Olympics, fourth at the World Championships, a silver at the European Championships, and multiple relay medals for Ireland. She holds national records in nearly every sprint category, from 60m indoors to 400m outdoors.
Her crowning moment nearly arrived in Paris, where she finished a valiant fourth in the individual 400m final. Alongside Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, and Sharlene Mawdsley, Adeleke powered the Irish 4x400m relay team to a new national record of 3:19.90, falling just 0.18 seconds short of a historic Olympic medal.
Diamond League Debut and Relay Leadership
Most recently, Adeleke clocked 22.72 seconds in the 200m at the Shanghai Diamond League, finishing a brilliant second against an elite field. It was her first Diamond League outing of the season, a crucial tune-up ahead of the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou.
There, she helped Ireland secure qualification spots for both the women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m at the World Championships.
Adeleke’s approach to the World Relays in Guangzhou, was no need for heroics. The mission was clear, qualify both relay teams for the World Championships. And they did, efficiently and without fuss.
A New Approach for a New Season
But medals aren’t the only measure of greatness. Adeleke’s 2025 season reflects a growing maturity. After graduating from the University of Texas last year with a degree in Corporate Communications, she stayed in Austin, maintaining her training under coach Edrick Floréal alongside sprinting greats Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith.
This year, she skipped the indoor season entirely, opting to methodically build her fitness for a long, demanding outdoor campaign.
As summer approaches, Adeleke plans to contest select Diamond League meetings before peaking for the World Championships in Tokyo this September. The women’s 400m has evolved into one of the most competitive events on the track. If Adeleke is to medal, her own Irish record of 49.07 seconds will likely have to fall.
Adeleke is not just chasing records , she’s chasing legacy.
