BY MATTHEW WILSON
2025 was a memorable one for Donegal’s Erin Friel, securing a bronze medal at the European Youth Olympics Festival last July.
Team Ireland travelled to the Major Championships in Sjokpe, North Macedonia last summer and collected six medals in total, with Friel being one of those successful athletes.
She participated in the Girls 400m Final where she crossed the line in third place, finishing in a time of 54.02 seconds.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Friel expressed that the feeling of earning the bronze medal was a surreal one, stating that everything had to go to plan in order to achieve what she did.
“It was the best feeling ever to have gone through so much training during the winter, for months and months before that was always the goal when I was training. To actually go out and come away with the medal was just the best feeling.”
She continued, it (a medal) was definitely the goal going out there. I knew it was possible but I knew that I would have to get everything right on the day and get through the rounds, first I’d the heats.
“Obviously, all of the travel and the different weather out there took a lot out of me but I managed to make the final and come away with the medal.”
As well as picking up a medal in North Macedonia, the Letterkenny AC athlete’s 400m Final time of 54.02 seconds was a personal best to further add to the accomplishment which she was delighted about.
“Yeah definitely. The goal was to peak at the right time and that was definitely where I wanted to peak. To come away from a major Championships with a medal and a personal best, that just made it ten times better.”
As well as competing in the individual 400m event, the Newton Cunningham native also participated in the 4×400 girls medley relay where the four athletes reached the European Final but missed out on a medal, finishing overall.
However, they did manage to set a national record in the process as they finished their heat in a time of 2:09.20 before lowering the record in the showpiece by a further two seconds, crossing the line in 2:07.06.
Despite missing out on a second medal of the week, this was still an incredible accomplishment and Friel discussed that the performance was one that the group were pleased with.
“We set a national record in the heats and again, we broke that one then in the final. It was a bit disappointing to come fourth and come so close to that medal but everyone was overall so happy that we made it that far so it was okay.”
In winning the bronze medal last July, the Letterkenny AC athlete became the first Irish female to secure a medal at the European Youth Olympics Festival since Rhasidat Adeleke in Baku in 2019.
Adeleke has since gone on to represent Team Ireland at European and World level, including the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris which gives Friel great hope for the future.
“Yeah definitely. To see that they’ve all come through the same thing I’m going through now. They put in all of the work so to see where it’s taken them gives me so much hope.”
After a successful 2025, this year is set to be another exciting one for the Donegal native, having committed to a scholarship move to Florida State University.
Friel will move to the United States later this year when she has completed the Leaving Certificate and it’s an opportunity that she is looking forward to.
“Definitely, that’s what I’m most looking forward to. It’s only seven or eight months away now. It’s not long so I just have to get through the Leaving Cert now and then I’ve that to look forward to.”
