Fionnuala McCormack facts for kids
McCormack at the 2011 European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia
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| Personal information | |
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| Born | 24 September 1984 Wicklow, Ireland |
| Height | 1.57m |
| Weight | 43kg |
Fionnuala McCormack (born Fionnuala Britton on 24 September 1984 in Wicklow, Ireland) is an amazing Irish runner. She has competed in many different long-distance races, showing incredible skill and determination. Fionnuala is famous for winning gold medals at the 2011 European Cross Country Championships and the 2012 European Cross Country Championships. She was the first woman ever to win this title two years in a row! She has also proudly represented Ireland at the Olympic Games multiple times, competing in events like the steeplechase and marathon.
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Fionnuala McCormack: Ireland's Running Star
Fionnuala started her international running journey in 2001. She focused on cross country running, which involves racing over natural terrain like grass and hills. One of her early achievements was finishing 33rd at the 2003 World Cross Country Championships.
Early Career and First Wins
In 2006, Fionnuala earned a silver medal in the steeplechase at the European Cup. The steeplechase is a track race with obstacles like hurdles and water jumps. Later that year, she won another silver medal in the under-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships.
She continued to improve, placing 14th at the 2007 World Cross Country Championships. This made her one of the best European runners in the race. She also made her debut at the World Championships, finishing 12th in the steeplechase final.
Olympic Dreams and European Golds
Fionnuala made her first Olympic appearance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed in the steeplechase. In 2009, she finished 11th at the European Cross Country Championships held in her home city of Dublin.
In 2011, Fionnuala set new personal bests in the 5000 metres and the steeplechase. That December, she achieved a huge milestone by winning the gold medal at the 2011 European Cross Country Championships. This was a fantastic victory for her and for Ireland.
She started 2012 with more wins at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country and Antrim Cross Country events. Later that year, she made history by becoming the first woman to successfully defend her European Cross Country title. She won gold again at the 2012 European Cross Country Championships in Budapest! She also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, running in both the 5000m and 10,000m races.
Continuing Success and New Milestones
In 2013, Fionnuala continued her winning streak by keeping her Great Edinburgh and Antrim Cross Country titles. She also earned a bronze medal in the 3000 metres at the European Indoor Championships. She was the top European runner at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 14th.
She kept competing at a high level, earning a team bronze medal at the 2014 European Cross Country Championships. In 2015, she got married and started competing as Fionnuala McCormack. She quickly earned another team bronze medal at the 2015 European Cross Country Championships.
Fionnuala has continued to compete in major events, including the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021). In 2019, she finished 5th in the Chicago Marathon, a very impressive result.
A truly remarkable achievement came in December 2022. Fionnuala qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This makes her the first Irish woman ever to compete in five Olympic Games! It shows her incredible dedication and long-lasting career in athletics.
Personal Bests
- 1500 metres – 4:08.35 min (2011)
- 3000 metres – 8:55.12 min (2012)
- 3000 metres indoor – 8:53.47 min (2013)
- 5000 metres – 15:08.69 min (2012)
- 10,000 metres – 31:18.25 min (2012)
- 3000 metres steeplechase – 9:17.60 min (2011)
- Marathon – 2 hrs 23:46 min (2024)
