Track star Rhasidat Adeleke has been subjected to online racial abuse from certain fans who argue that she doesn’t deserve to be hailed as an Irish legend.
Despite her exceptional talents and achievements, some fans have refused to acknowledge Adeleke’s legendary status, citing her African heritage. Born in Dublin to Nigerian parents Ade and Prince Adeleke, the gifted sprinter rose to prominence at the age of 14 by clinching the junior sprint double at the Irish Schools championships for Presentation College.
A month later, she represented Ireland and secured a silver medal in the 200m at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Győr, Hungary. Since then, Adeleke has achieved numerous milestones at the junior level, including winning the 2021 European U20 double sprint championship.
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Additionally, she holds six National Records and became the first Irish woman to break the 50-second barrier in the 400m. Adeleke’s accomplishments culminated in winning the 2023 NCAA title in the 400m with a time of 49.20s and finishing fourth in the women’s 400m final at the World Championships in Budapest.
Despite her remarkable achievements, some fans refuse to recognize Adeleke’s legendary status due to her African ancestry. The racial backlash intensified after her impressive victory at the Texas Invitational, where she clocked 10.84s in the 100m. Despite passionate support from Irish fans, certain individuals expressed skepticism about Adeleke’s Irish identity, sparking a debate on nationality versus ethnicity.
Despite the racial abuse, Adeleke remains focused on her goals, aiming for a memorable first full Olympic season and the chance to medal in one of her main events at the Paris Olympics.