Echo Women in Sport award: Phil Healy hailed for her magnificent month of June

Phil Healy was delighted to accept the Echo Women In Sport award for June 2024 on the same evening the Paris-bound athlete recorded a season’s best 200m at the Cork City Sports.

Fresh off her 4x400 women’s relay silver medal at this year’s European Championships in Rome, Phil Healy entertained a capacity MTU Cork crowd by competing in both 100m and 200m races.

Despite cold conditions and a difficult wind, Healy’s time of 23.34 in the 200m represented a season’s best and continued the Ballineen native’s positive build-up to the 2024 Olympics.

“To come away with a season’s best at the Cork City Sports, I’m really happy with that,” Healy commented.

“Some years I’ve not been in the best of shape but Cork City Sports always seems to bring the best out in me.

“I suppose it is coming home and running in front of my home crowd. 

"I have travelled to Silver meets, even Gold meets, but you never have a crowd like this. 

"This is a Bronze meet so it is a credit to all the locals and people who travelled from all over Ireland, who came out and supported our Irish Athletes here in Cork.

“A big credit too to the Cork City Sports Committee because you had someone who won a Diamond League in that race. 

"You never have that in the Bronze Category meet. Cork City Sports brings the best out of everyone and I’m really happy to have been a part of it.” 

The entire Healy family and supporters were on hand to witness the 29-year-olds latest exploits, something the European silver medallist was appreciative of.

“For me personally, everybody was here tonight from Ballineen, friends, family, the whole shebang!” the Irish athlete said. “They wouldn’t miss it. So, it’s super to be able to come home and have that support. I have travelled all over Europe this season. 

"To come here and race on this new MTU Cork track was super.” 

CHEMISTRY

Winning her first senior international medal at the European Championships was a special moment for Phil Healy. Being part of a close-knit group of Irish Athletes made that accolade even more memorable.

That on and off-track chemistry will be crucial if Healy and her team-mates are to make their mark in the 4x400 women’s relay in Paris.

“That chemistry we have is so, so important,” Healy admitted.

“There’s a squad of six or seven who travel to the major athletics championships. Obviously, in Rome we had a certain six. In the Bahamas a few weeks earlier, there were different members on that team. So, it is constantly changing.

“That shows the depth in Irish Athletics when it comes to 400m sprinting and it’s brilliant to see. 

"Things have really changed in Irish Athletics over 400m.

“Credit to the coaches who have created such a great bond and positive atmosphere within the Irish team. 

"We get on so well and now have a national record of 3:22. That national record, for the exact same team in the European Championships two years ago was 3:26.

“We’ve come a long, long way and we’re certainly not done yet.” 

Heading into the Paris games, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the instantly likeable West Cork athlete. 

Not so long ago, retirement was on Phil Healy’s mind. Persistent Thyroid issues had the athlete seriously contemplating walking away from her sport.

“I just missed the individual spot for the Tokyo 400m final by something like seven hundredths of a second which was absolutely nothing,” the European silver medallist recalled.

“After a really tough two years, both mentally and physically, to be that close (was tough to take).

“If you asked me that question this time last year, the answer would have been that I was retiring from the sport. 

"I just had enough of it. I wasn’t enjoying it. I was in a bad place. Now to come away a two-time Olympian is something very special and means a lot to me.” 

Now, only a fortnight away from travelling to Paris, things couldn’t be more positive for an athlete supported by Kevin O’Leary Bandon, Carbery Group Limerick and (previously) Nyhan Motors.

A recent call to be part of the Cork senior hurlers unforgettable All-Ireland semi-final victory over Limerick proved a welcome and thrilling distraction.

“When I was asked to be a part of the day, I jumped at it,” Phil Healy said.

“Being down in the tunnel and seeing the Cork team run out on to Croke Park, this is something I might never get to experience again. 

When I went on to the pitch, it was about 15 minutes before the start, the stadium wasn’t full, but it was definitely half or three-quarters full. The noise was insane.

“It was an unbelievable experience. What a performance from Cork and right until the very end too.

“It was super to see such support. It is going to be great for the county, not just over the next few weeks but the summers ahead. 

"Credit to the Cork senior hurling team for fighting until the bitter end. They have been super this year. 

"I wish them all the best in the All-Ireland final.” 

It could yet be a memorable summer for the Rebels as well as one of their biggest supporters who will fly the Cork flag in Paris. 

All the best to Phil Healy.