Software running at full tilt for Irish athletes

IRISH sprinters could be in line for gold medals at the next Olympics in Los Angeles with the help of high-tech training systems being developed here.

- BY PAT FLANAGAN

It has been revealed that elite Irish sprinters are involved in a study at Lero, a leading software research centre at the University of Limerick.

Among those taking part in the study is sprint star and Olympic hopeful Sarah Leahy from Killarney, Co Kerry.

The groundbreaking research at UL hopes to give Irish sprinters a competitive edge at the 2028 Olympics.

While the country has always excelled when it came to long and middle-distance athletes such as Sonia O'Sullivan and Caitriona McKiernan, in recent years sprinters have been on track for glory.

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Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke brought home gold from the European Championships in Rome last year when Ireland won the mixed 4x400m relay.

They also bagged a silver medal in the women's 4x400m relay and there are high hopes that they can do even better at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.