THIS YEAR’S Olympic Games in London should have been the crowning glory for local swimming superstar, Grainne Murphy, but instead her dreams were shattered through no fault of her own.
Earlier this year the Ballinaboola sensation suffered a bout of glandular fever which knocked her training schedule on its head. The full effects of that did not materialise until the amiable young swimmer entered the water for her first event in London 2012.
That event, the 400m freestyle, saw her come home in eight position but the really concerning thing was that her time was 10 seconds slower than her own qualifying time.
Alarm bells immediately rang for Murphy and her backroom team because no-one could have predicted how much the hiccup in her training routine was going to affect her. Perhaps, the time difference indicated just how finely tuned all the athletes are who enter the Olympics.
Significantly, Murphy pulled out of the 400m individual medley to concentrate on the freestyle events, however, she subsequently pulled out of the 200m freestyle event. She then planned to contest what should have been her main event last Thursday – the 800m freestyle.
Sadly, the full effect of her illness ultimately proved too much and she was ultimately forced to pull out of the Olympics altogether. She had been due to race in four events in London 2012 and her inclusion in Team Ireland led to great excitement in New Ross and across Co. Wexford where is very well known and respected.
As an ambassador for the town and county she has been impeccable and as one local person commented during the week: “It’s horrible that it ended for her this way. The only thing is she’s young and will hopefully be back there again.”
While her out-of-pool demeanour garnered her great respect a lot was expected of her in the competitions too as she won three silver European senior medals in 2010 including the 1,500m long course silver – when she was just 17 years-of-age.
Unfortunately, glandular fever is something to which highly tuned athletes can be particularly susceptible.
While the eyes of Wexford were on her during her first, and ultimately only event, of London 2012 it was heartbreaking to see her trail home in eight position – which was not indicative of her overall ability.
At just 19 years-of-age she still has a bright future ahead of her and will still only be 23 when the next Olympics come around. Unfortunately, it means starting from scratch in terms of qualifying is concerned but taking the top step of an Olympic podium is certainly within her capabilities. Hopefully when the next Games take place Co. Wexford will again have plenty of reason to celebrate and few would bet against Grainne Murphy’s name being among the swimmers taking to the water only next time around, hopefully, good fortune will prevail and her undoubted talent will the duly rewarded.