Olatunde dream 'more special moments'
Nigeria born Irish athete Israel Olatunde is looking forward I a successful 2023 season.
Nigeria born Irish athete Israel Olatunde says he's just trying to create "more special moments" as his focus turns to 2023 after a game-changing summer.
The Dundalk 20-year-old has been basking in the glow of his European Athletics Championships achievements for a while now.
Olatunde made history in Munich on a balmy August evening by becoming the first Irish athlete to qualify for a 100m final at the Europeans before breaking Paul Hession's 15-year record in a time of 10.17 seconds.
Heady times, but Olatunde is as grounded as they come. He moved to UCD campus in September, where he's taking a computer science degree, and while living with the moniker 'Ireland's fastest man' has been a strange, exhilarating experience, he has embraced it.
"It has been a little bit different, the attention from the media and just in general, but it's something that... it's a blessing to be in this position," Olatunde said at the announcement of insurance company 123.ie as the official partner to Athletics Ireland.
"Ireland's fastest man, it really is an honour. I'm just taking it in my stride. Things haven't really changed too much apart form that. I'm still looking to take the 100ths and the tenths off my PB.
"It's been pretty good. I can't complain. Academically and sports-wise, everything is going as planned.
"It's a really great environment in UCD. I have great room-mates. It's just great to actually be on campus and have the things I need around me. It's given me way more time for studying and also for recovery and training."
This year has been a learning curve for Olatunde in more ways than one. At the World Indoors in spring, he failed to make it out of his heat. Lessons were learned.
"At the Worlds, I came fourth in my heat and I got knocked out. I just didn't really execute my race as I should have. I got kind of caught in the moment a little bit. I had the fastest African in history right in the lane beside me [Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala], so that was a little bit intimidating.
