August 2008 - Olympics

Curley’s Olympic Dream Comes True

It was a magical moment. She came down the finishing straight, waving to the crowd, who gave her a thunderous welcome, clapping and cheering to their hearts delight.  Then, having crossed the line, she fell to her knees and kissed the track, rose up and waved to the packed arena.  A massive cheer reverberated around the packed Olympic stadium and an official handed her a towel to wipe away the sweat that had accumulated during the previous 26.2 miles race through the streets of Beijing.  I’m sure Pauline Curley must have had dreams like this over the years but this was no dream, it was reality!  Just two hours forty seven minutes earlier Pauline had set off from the start line of the Beijing Olympic Marathon in Tian’anmen Square with eighty-one of the world’s best marathon runners, amongst them were the world record holder, Paula Radcliffe and reigning world champion, Catherine Ndereba.  

The weather conditions were not as oppressive as expected but during the course of the race the temperature was in the seventies and the humidity (which is the real killer for athletes) was in the eighties, very high indeed.  Pauline set off at a conservative pace and she was right to do so, as twelve athletes were forced to drop out during the course of the race.  One of those was the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist, Deena Kastor (USA) who suffered a foot injury.  Pauline settled into a nice rhythm and went through the halfway point in 82:54 minutes.  Her second half was only slightly slower (84:22) as the heat and humidity took its toll.  During the race she was encouraged by the cheers of her husband, Adrian, her mentor Mick Hayden, her son Emmet and her mother, three sisters, two sisters-in-law and Sharon Hayden, as well as many other Irish team officials, athletes and supporters. As she entered the final three mile, the sight of the magnificent Bird’s Nest stadium gave her a new spring in her step and she finished strongly.  The Bird’s Nest stadium is surely the most beautiful stadium in Olympic history and one can only imagine how she felt as she ran through the entrance gate and on to the track to complete the final 500 meters to the finish line.  Pauline savoured every moment of those final meters, especially the last 185 yards that are added to the 26 miles that preceded them.  

The stadium was packed with cheering spectators from around the world and a television audience of billions joined them.  She crossed the finish line in 63rd position, her finishing time was a very creditable 2:47.16, and as she crossed the line she became one of a very rare breed, she became an Olympian.  Interviews for RTE television and radio followed. The national newspapers wanted quotes and it was great to hear Pauline say that she fully enjoyed the experience and she found the finish in the stadium a magical moment.  She went on to thank all those who had supported her including her club mates in Tullamore Harriers and her workmates.  It was a special time for her family, her husband and son, her mentor Mick Hayden, her former coach and recent marathon adviser, Robert Denmead. No one was prouder than Tullamore Harriers chairman, John Cronin, and he was not alone as many of our members have seen Pauline develop and hone her talent in Tullamore Harriers over the past twenty years. A special thank you to all those who organized the recent send off for Pauline and the posters that were erected around Tullamore and Killeigh.  Constantina Tomescu Dita of Romania won the race in 2:26.44, ahead of Catherine Ndereba (Kenya) and Chunxiu Zhou (China).  Having battled with injury in the months prior to the race, Paula Radcliffe had to settle for 23rd place in 2:32.38.  Most of the athletes were at least six to ten minutes slower than their best times, an indication of the toll that the humidity and heat took on them.  

Congratulations, Pauline.