European Indoors Athletics Championships: Team Ireland Schedule

The European Indoors Athletics Championships kick off in Istanbul on Thursday, with events taking place at the Atakoy Arena until Sunday evening.

Fifteen athletes will represent Team Ireland in Turkey with Israel Olatunde coming into the event off the back of setting a new Irish record of 6.57 earlier this month at the National Championships at Abbotstown.

Mark English, twice a European Indoors medalist, and John Fitzsimons will be the first Irish athletes on track when they compete in the heats of the 800m on the opening night.

Ireland's fastest man Israel Olatunde returns to European competition on the back recent record-breaking heroics breaking and the Munich 2022 finalist is sure to have sights on making another international final.

Olatunde will be in heats action early Saturday morning (6.20am) and the man ranked eighth in Europe is hopeful that the form of Munich, by fans and athletes, could spur Team Ireland to great things.

"Knowing that you are part of something so great and being able to make our country proud means a lot," he said.

"In Munich, the atmosphere really was what spurred us on to the great performances. Seeing other people put on some great indoor performances this season, especially Rhasidat [Adeleke] over in the United States tearing it up, really inspires me to push on and do whatever I can to push the boundaries."

National 400m champion Sophie Becker will look to progress through Friday's heats, along with Sharlene Mawdsley and Cliodhna Manning.

The Raheny Shamrock athlete claimed the Irish title on her first outing of the season with a dominant display and a time of 53.11, while Mawdsley boasts a PB this season of 51.91.

400m runner @sophiebecker_ explains how she manages her work/life balance. Becker