Rhasidat Adeleke to miss World Athletics Championships due to injury

Ellen O'Donoghue

Dublin sprinter and Olympian Rhasidat Adeleke has announced she will miss next month's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

In a statement posted on social media on Monday night, the Tallaght AC athlete said that this season has tested her in more ways than she "ever anticipated".

"Lingering injuries and continuous setbacks made it increasingly difficult to train and perform at the level I expect from myself," Adeleke said.

"Following yet another recent roadblock, I’m saddened to share that I’m unable to finish out this season. I’ll take this time to heal, recover and do what’s necessary so I can show up next season as my best self, mind and body."

"I’m so grateful to everyone that shows me unwavering support. It means the world," her statement finished.

Adeleke had qualified for next month’s World Championships in Tokyo in both the 200m and 400m, but the 22-year-old had been struggling to hit top form throughout the summer, her best 400m time of 50.42 ranking her 26th in the world while her 200m best of 22.52 ranked her 36th.

Her withdrawal deals a huge blow to the Irish team ahead of the showpiece event of the year, particularly the hopes of the women’s 4x400m team, which finished fourth in last year’s Olympic final.

Adeleke finished fourth in the last world 400m final in Budapest two years ago and fourth in the Olympic final last year. Keen to win her first global championship medal in 2025, she decided to bypass the indoor season to lay a big foundation of training for the summer.

However, she was unable to reproduce the form she showed over the previous two seasons, her most recent outing being a fourth-place finish over 200m at the London Diamond League in July, where she clocked 22.52.