Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke and Charlene Mawdsley at Paris. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile. THE 'Ballineen Bullet' received a rousing welcome back to her native west Cork after the Paris Olympic heroics of Ireland's 4x400m women's relay team.
Phil Healy (29) was visibly emotional as hundreds gathered in the twin villages of Ballineen and Enniskeane to honour the sprinter who agonisingly missed out on a bronze medal despite the Irish women's relay team taking an incredible three seconds off the national record with a run of 3:19.90. Phil, together with Rhasidat Adeleke from Dublin, Sophie Becker from Wexford and Sharlene Mawdsley from Tipperary, delivered an Irish record performance in the Olympic final of the 4x400m women's relay and were denied a bronze medal by just 0.
18 seconds. The US comfortably won the gold medal with the Netherlands taking the silver and Britain clinching the bronze after also delivering a national record breaking performance. Phil was greeted by proud family and friends before leading a special parade through the villages.
"It was bittersweet," Phil said. "We were agonisingly close to a medal but (we delivered) a performance we will forever be proud of." The stunning time of the Irish relay stars would have won a medal in any other Olympic 4x400m relay final with the solitary exception of Seoul '88.
To mark the Olympic parade, both Ballineen and Enniskeane were bedecked in Tricolours, Olympic ring placards and posters paying tribute to Phil as 'The Ballineen Bullet’. Commencing at the Bandon Co-op premises in Enniskeane, the parade continued to the West End in Ballineen before finishing at St Mary's GAA club where a formal reception was held. Ballineen and Enniskeane officials, as well as members of Cork County Council, paid tribute to the athlete before she received a special presentation of thanks on behalf of the local community.
Following the speeches, the sprinter held a special 'meet and greet' with her local fans from across Cork - many of whom had travelled from as far as Bantry, Grange, Midleton and Mallow. There was a large contingent from Bandon AC. The event was organised by a special Ballineen and Enniskeane Committee who were determined to honour Phil for her decade-long work as a sporting ambassador for Cork and Ireland.
"This is a very significant event for our beautiful twin villages of Enniskeane and Ballineen," Margaret O'Connor said. "Phil will be back to where she started her athletics career. This is a very important community event as I believe that all our heroes may be found in our own communities.
" For the athlete, the challenge now will be adjusting to normal life after the adrenalin-charged fortnight of Paris '24. Phil is already back to work. "As well as training six days a week, I work full-time as a software engineer,” she said.
"I also mentor secondary school and college students as part of various programmes to help promote STEM and to encourage girls to pursue a career in IT.” "I work from home 95pc of the time so that definitely makes everything a lot easier." The athlete said every single member of the relay team will remember the incredible support they received in Paris.
"To every single person who has messaged and supported us in any way over the last few weeks, we are overwhelmed and so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for all the love and support." Phil added that she was so proud of what the 4x400m relay team had achieved in Paris. “This team is very special and I’m so so proud of the whole squad involved,” she added.
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