Skip to content
Ireland's Fionnuala Britton running in the Women's 10,000m Final. INPHO/Morgan Treacy

'It started off perfect and then just fell apart,' admits Fionnuala Britton

Things didn’t go to plan for the 27-year-old in tonight’s 10,000m final in London.

IRISH RUNNER Fionnuala Britton has vowed to return to the Olympic Stadium and attempt to ‘fix’ her Games hopes after disappointment in London tonight.

The European Cross-Country champion finished well behind the pack in the Women’s 10,000m final and was ultimately lapped by eventual winner Tirunesh Dibaba among others before the finish. Dibaba thus becomes the first track and field Olympic medal winner in these Games.

“It wasn’t what I’d hoped for or planned at all,” Britton told TheScore afterwards. “The race started off fine and I suppose it was nice to let someone else do the work for once.

“I mean in Europeans I had to go to the front and lead it and it didn’t pay off. This time I even got to sit in and it still didn’t work. But I suppose I can appreciate what the three girls tried to do — I was glad they tried to do because it suited me… even if I could have kept going the way I was it would have been a really good race for me. It started off perfect and then just fell apart.”

The 27-year-old has, at least, the consolation of more events to come: the 5,000m and the 3,000m steeplechase.

“Yeah but that was one… that was my chance to do really well,” she told Will Downing in London. “And yeah I definitely want to come back out and try and do better than I now have done but I suppose I have to go back and plan for Tuesday. And it’s nice to think that I can actually come back out and fix it.”

O’Lionaird may ‘find something else to do with my life’ following Olympics exit

Close
26 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
    Favourite Dermot Mc Loughlin
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 4:55 PM

    The Roy Keane.
    Someone who hasn’t grasped the idea that 5 aside football is normally just for a bit of craic with mates midweek and there are no medals handed out at the end but plays and shouts like it’s the champions league final and is still fuming and talking about it 3 days later.

    285
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Discopants
    Favourite Discopants
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 5:59 PM

    The Gaelic Footballer.
    Doesn’t get the idea of a one-two, thinks short passing is a waste of time and likes belting the ball as hard as he can up the other end of the pitch. Never lets you out of the corner; in fact runs full belt at you and tries to kill you. Loves to drop the shoulder, especially when challenging for the ball near the side wall. Short shorts, big arse, hugely enthusiastic, often whoops, but never gets asked back again.

    275
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark O'Brien
    Favourite Mark O'Brien
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 6:11 PM

    Classic

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane O'Regan
    Favourite Shane O'Regan
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 3:48 PM

    Also will never pass the ball backwards.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark O'Brien
    Favourite Mark O'Brien
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 5:52 PM

    The better brother of a guy who made it professionaly. The only reason this guy didn’t was because of the drink. ‘Could have played with Celtic’. Slaughters you for 10 minutes then has a coronary for 50 minutes.

    169
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martayyy
    Favourite Martayyy
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 8:05 PM

    The Pro….
    Struts onto the turf with the newest gear out, under armour and hairband, first touch of a donkey but counts every goal scored week in week out (I’ve 30 goals in astro this season) and to top it off asks around after the game does anybody know of a good physio cuz he’s feeling a bit tight in the groin….

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Stafford
    Favourite Mick Stafford
    Report
    Dec 27th 2014, 11:14 AM

    Eh, what’s up with the dates on people’s comments – they’re all over the shop!?

    The sub…

    Usually one of the lads sons who come along to get him outta the house so the mother can catch up on Corrie. He’s probably around 12-14 years old. He’ll go in goals so “no hard shots lads, sure he’s only a chap!’ Which is a distinct advantage. He’ll turn out to be amazing and no matter how hard you hit it, he’ll dive full length, collecting the ball in mid flight, a few somersaults and rolls and he’s off up the pitch, nutmegging and steps overs to bate tha band before sticking it in the top corner. As he walks back up the pitch, he’s given a little reminder of what age group of lads he’s actually playing with and someone decides to ‘soften his cough’ by ‘puttin a pup in him’ which ultimately results in a screaming kid rolling around all ‘ronaldo-esque’ with a shoving match between his dad and the offending individual. But all is settled with a few pints in the local with the young lad sippin a lemonade and chompin on a packet o’ Tatyo texting his mates with indecipherable gobbledegook about the dinosaurs he’s destroyed earlier….!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran Purdy
    Favourite Ciaran Purdy
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 3:59 PM

    The john terry… He’s around shagging your missus while your not at home

    128
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen Brien
    Favourite Glen Brien
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 5:44 PM

    The peter bonetti…..The keeper who is like a cat in 5 a side goals… But gets caught out on the big pitch!

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Whyte
    Favourite Ben Whyte
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 6:29 PM

    The Heart – possesses all the drive, will and spirit a manager could ever ask of a player. Shows up every week and runs himself into the ground but ultimately has two left shins

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fin Tastic
    Favourite Fin Tastic
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 7:25 PM

    Also known as the Zinedine Kilbane. Which would make it 2 right shins.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Mulcahy
    Favourite Peter Mulcahy
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 2:36 PM

    The Deer
    Happy out chasing fellas and the ball. Gets caught in the headlights upon receiving said ball

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Maughan
    Favourite John Maughan
    Report
    Jan 25th 2013, 8:02 PM

    The Hub

    This is the guy who believes that the only good pass is a pass to him – generally loud and persistent.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Figo Flynn
    Favourite John Figo Flynn
    Report
    Jan 26th 2013, 10:06 AM

    The had trials ……
    The muppet who was been chased by utd and Liverpool as a kid but wanted to do his leaving first! Turns out to be crap and then blames pitch,ball,lighting,his team,his footwear,drink from last night,injury……..

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Heavey
    Favourite Fran Heavey
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 2:49 PM

    He wouldve made it if it wasnt for the drink…….

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Carrick
    Favourite Graham Carrick
    Report
    Jan 26th 2013, 8:54 AM

    Forgot the dreaded “toy boy”. Shows up in the full Real Madrid kit with sparkling new green Astro boots wearing a head bank and gold cross around his neck. Cries off injured after 5 mins as everyone realises he’s awful.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Barber
    Favourite Sean Barber
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 3:04 PM

    For whatever reason somebody has pulled out due to “work”, always the same person, and the only replacement is another players son or nephew. The next 60 minutes involve getting nutmegged repeatedly and chasing his shadow.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Carey
    Favourite Mike Carey
    Report
    Dec 31st 2013, 12:37 AM

    The Rainman – really sweaty guy, with wet marks on chest, armpits, groin after 20secs of play. Spray of water in his wake and if you make any contact with, you may actually drown. Drinks out of everyone’s bottles and is a consistent back washer!! In a nutshell, wet!!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Houchen
    Favourite Keith Houchen
    Report
    Dec 30th 2013, 11:37 PM

    Nothing else happened except my goal… You’ve hammered him 17 3 but he’s scored a good goal… Maybe the best goal of the game but he’s otherwise been abysmal…. He ruffles your keepers head as you leave and tells him… Ha you won’t forget that one in a hurry…. You meet him in a boozer five nights later and he makes you lose the will to live jabbering on about it

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aul lads at funerals
    Favourite Aul lads at funerals
    Report
    Jan 29th 2013, 9:58 AM

    “he takes a first touch that’s heavier than a black hole” – you my friend need to get a script writing role for Jim Beglin! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKw3EO3xpQc (1.22, in the best video ever produced by RTE)

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Sexton
    Favourite John Sexton
    Report
    Dec 31st 2013, 3:49 AM

    The sweaty guy. Starts pumpin after 5 mins. Or the football cogs guy. Catches ure ankle with a stud and just says ‘oh sorry, you alrite ?’ As he jogs on.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony O'Donovan
    Favourite Anthony O'Donovan
    Report
    Dec 31st 2013, 11:45 AM

    The Heather Mills. Can only pass/shoot with one foot which makes him as easy to read, can also be called the Roald Dahl.

    12
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.