Every week, we will take a look at inspirational and motivational females throughout history as part of a campaign entitled #GirlsRunTheWorld from Life Style Sports. Why? Well because we do. Fuelled by strength and empowerment, the Life Style Sports ‘Girls Run the World’ campaign aims to support women in achieving their running and fitness goals in 2014 with the very best product range and free advice from the team of Life Style Sports Product Experts available in stores throughout the country.
Life Style Sports hope that the ‘Girls Run the World’ campaign will inspire women and with this in mind, we will feature inspirational women from Irish Olympic runner Fionnuala Britton to Hilary Clinton – these Girls Run The World and we want to celebrate them!
This week, we take a look at our very own Olympian, Sonia O'Sullivan.
1. She loves a challenge.
Despite the fact that she is now 45, Sonia still throws herself into various campaigns, constantly setting herself new challenges. After singing up for Rás na mBan just last year she told us: “Last year I had the Paris to London Challenge Bike Ride and a triathlon. This year I had nothing to aim for and I need goals too, a reason to get up on the bike and the Rás na mBan seems like a different challenge. It’s good to learn new things, I’m at a stage where the goals I’d have had for running are beyond me being able to reach them again.”
2. She was the world's leading runner for most of the 90's and the beginning of this millennium.
She may have come from just outside Cobh, but that didn't stop Sonia from taking over the world. She was one of the leading female runners for the decade in 5000m. Quite an achievement.
3. She has the medals to prove it.
Sonia has a Silver Medal from the Olympics in 2000, a Gold from the World Championships in 1995 and various other golds and silvers from European and World Cross-Country Championships.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdDY--9LKE0
4. She has never given up!
Even though Sonia is not competing at the level she used to, that didn't stop her moving on to other sports. Sonia commented: “I like to keep running but I’ve had one or two injuries and it’s difficult to run every day so I’ve moved over to do a bit of cycling which allows me to keep fit and is another outlet.” She even took part in a London to Paris Bike Challenge in 2012. After her career, we think
5. She inspired many to take up athletics or sport in general!
Sonia is now considered a national hero and there is no doubt that her career and wins inspired another generation of athletes who wished to compete in World Championships and Olympic Games.
Whatever kind of training you are involved in, the Life Style Sports Product Experts (in stores nationwide) are on hand to ensure each customer selects the correct clothing and footwear to meet their individual needs, reducing risk of injury and achieving better results. Life Style Sports also offers customers a free Gait Analysis service in select stores which provides runners with an essential insight into their individual running styles. Customers can also find all the information they need on wearing the right technical apparel, including “Sports Bra Fitting Guides” and footwear while running or working out at “The Fitness Hub” on lifestylesports.com.
