Born in Cobh, County Cork, Sonia O'Sullivan is Ireland's best ever athlete, having won Olympic Silver and multiple World Championship gold medals, both on the track and cross country.
As a child, Sonia wasn't national champion: but only because these weren't held for girls! Her first major international race was in 1990, when she finished 11th in 3,000 metres in the European Championships. Less than a year later, she took more than 5 seconds off the previous world indoor 5,000m record.
It wasn't success all the way, and Sonia had some very difficult days, but she's an amazing example of what determination, hard work and natural talent can achieve: she's a real role model for girls and boys alike.
This fast-paced, engaging telling of her life is aimed at young readers.
I was in primary school in 1992, and secondary in 1996, and graduated by 2000 (it's impolite to tell a lady you know her age, remember!) and in all three years, I remember the huge fuss about Sonia running in the Olympics. In '92 she was barely known; the other two years, she was Ireland's best hope, and I can remember banners and parties and signs wishing her well.
I didn't know very much about her, though. This fantastic little read has solved that. Fast paced and interesting, it follows Sonia from her childhood in Cobh right up to watching her daughter compete in 2018. It's full of interesting anecdotes and stories - for instance, it hadn't occurred to me that high level athletes would be so friendly with each other, but it makes complete sense. Of course they'd see each other all the time at different competitions.
This is a great addition to O'Brien's series of sports biographies and a really interesting read.
As a child, Sonia wasn't national champion: but only because these weren't held for girls! Her first major international race was in 1990, when she finished 11th in 3,000 metres in the European Championships. Less than a year later, she took more than 5 seconds off the previous world indoor 5,000m record.
It wasn't success all the way, and Sonia had some very difficult days, but she's an amazing example of what determination, hard work and natural talent can achieve: she's a real role model for girls and boys alike.
This fast-paced, engaging telling of her life is aimed at young readers.
I was in primary school in 1992, and secondary in 1996, and graduated by 2000 (it's impolite to tell a lady you know her age, remember!) and in all three years, I remember the huge fuss about Sonia running in the Olympics. In '92 she was barely known; the other two years, she was Ireland's best hope, and I can remember banners and parties and signs wishing her well.
I didn't know very much about her, though. This fantastic little read has solved that. Fast paced and interesting, it follows Sonia from her childhood in Cobh right up to watching her daughter compete in 2018. It's full of interesting anecdotes and stories - for instance, it hadn't occurred to me that high level athletes would be so friendly with each other, but it makes complete sense. Of course they'd see each other all the time at different competitions.
This is a great addition to O'Brien's series of sports biographies and a really interesting read.
No comments:
Post a Comment