Budapest 2023: Adeleke positive despite fourth finish, focused on Paris 2024

 It wasn't to be for Rhasidat Adeleke tonight, as she finished in fourth place in the 400m final at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest on Wednesday.

Her time of 50.13 was nearly a second off her best - a time which would have given her silver - in a race that was won by the favourite Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.

However, it is still beyond what we would have expected at the beginning of the season from the 20-year-old, in an event she only took up a year ago.

Despite not getting near a personal best, Adeleke showed an incredibly positive and upbeat outlook in her post-race interview.

“At the end of the day, I gave it all I had. That's my goal, as long as I give it 100% I can't complain. Left it all out on the track out there and that's what I had.

“I feel like I was a bit out of my comfort zone, I do like to be a bit more comfortable in the first 200. But I did what I was told and that's all that I can do.

 

“I'd be kicking myself if I did the opposite and I did even worse.

"I left it all out there.

"I was competing against the pros whose season started in May. Honestly, for me to come fourth is a really good result.

"I'm going to keep working. This is what I love to do."

Adeleke declared that next year's Olympic Games are the ultimate goal: "The main reason I turned professional was so I won’t be in the same predicament with college next year. I’ll be more fresh and be able to actually choose my races to gear towards the Olympic Games."

Adeleke stormed to an NCAA gold medal in Texas back in June, running a time of 49.20.

"The time I ran in June would’ve come second [today]. Hopefully next year I’ll be in a better position to do that."

Adeleke had secured a final spot by breaking the 50-second mark in her semi-final on Monday on the back of a strong final half. She had pledged to start quicker this time around rather than leaving herself so much work to do in the final 200 metres.

"I got there a bit faster than I did in the previous rounds but I probably felt it then at the end, in the last 50 [metres]," she said. "At the end of the day, I tried my best and that’s all I can do.

"I had to give it my all, and stay in contention, that was just what I had to do really."

"I’m just trying to keep making more progress to be able to compete with the best in the world."

"It’s really just trying to stay in shape and being able to pick my races and make sure I’m able to peak for the major championships."

"Even if I’m disappointed with myself, I’m just happy to be able to put some smiles on people’s faces. Take pictures with them, and say Hi to them. Talk to them and just say thank you for supporting me at this time because it really means a lot."