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London 2012: Introducing... Aileen Morrison

The driven Derry woman is today’s first entry to our athlete profiles.

©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Event: Triathlon

Who is she? The Derry native is Ireland’s second female triathlete to ever qualify for the Olympic games.

Road to London: Triathlon qualifications is based on ranking points won over a two year period. Morrison has been certain of her top 55 placing for some time now. In fact, following her third place in Madrid, she found herself ranked in the world’s top 10.

What she says about herself: “There is no way I can’t realistically finish inside the top 15. I’d really like a top 10 finish that would be really good. Now in saying that, I have medals on the World Series – which shows that I can compete when I’m at my best.”

What they’re saying on the internet: “Her swimming seemed to have much improved towards the end of the summer, she was coming out in the top 5 in the two races I saw her in. Yokohama had a good field with uber swimmer Lucy Hall winning the swim with Jenkins close behind and then Morrison” catweazle (Boards.ie).

Medal chances: Outside of boxing, Morrison perhaps carries the greatest expectation. She has been mixing it with the world’s best for the past two years and only appears to be improving. A top 10 finish is her goal from the outset, but a good clean interchange will see her pushing for the podium. Three events and Jimmy is giving a mark for each of them.

On the Twitter: You can find her @AileenMorr. You may also have seen her on RTE’s London Calling series. If you did, you won’t have missed her lovely ‘wee Mammy’.

If you meet her in a bar, ask her about... whatever you do, don’t ask her how she get into triathlons. Instead, ask what her favourite food might be or what has been her favourite destination on the circuit.

If she was a YouTube video, she would be: As a late-comer to the sport, Morrison is coming in to the Olympics as a dangerous underdog. And -if the movies have thought us anything – underdogs can only win with the help of training montage. So…

YouTube credit: Erik393

Read more of TheScore’s “London 2012: Introducing” series here >

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    Mute Mick Reynolds
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:55 PM

    As a Leeds supporter and a massive fan of the book, I have to say this film is a huge letdown. There are some brilliant aspects to it; the performances of Michael Sheen as Clough, Timothy Spall as Taylor, and Jim Broadbent as Sam Longson are brilliant.

    However, the idea that the rivalry between Clough and Revie is down to Revie snubbing him at Elland Road is laughable and takes away from the drama of what really happened and indeed the well fleshed out, fictionalized account in David Peace’s novel. A far more interesting film could have been made from focusing on the darker aspects of Clough’s character, and David Peace himself has suggested in could be remade in a style more akin to the Richard Harris film “This Sporting Life”

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    Mute David o'neill
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:10 PM

    Really enjoyed the film Michael sheen was majestic !!!! Being a forest fan loved Clough !!!

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    Mute Harry Redmond
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:25 PM

    Really great film, but having read the book it feels like there was a bit of an effort to not upset the Clough family in the same way the book did, which is arguably the best part of the novel seeing the darker sides of Clough’s personality and really ramping up the turmoil that he went through in that time period

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    Mute Jason Meaney
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    Dec 22nd 2014, 1:45 AM

    I’m a Huddersfield town supporter but I think the book was one of the best sports books I’ve ever read. Brilliantly written.

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    Mute Simon Croghan
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    Dec 22nd 2014, 8:18 AM

    I really enjoyed the film and the makers deliberately moved away from many aspects of the book. I disliked the book as did the Clough Family and indeed our own J. Giles who sued the author, Peace, successfully.
    As a Liverpool supporter, Clough was the biggest thorn in our side. He was, and still is, the greatest manager ever in England. Yes, even above Paisley !
    His achievements will never be matched. Taking unfashionable teams to heights they could never have imagined. Derby, winning the old Second and then First Division titles. They were very close getting to the final of the European Cup !
    Then Notts Forest ! Who did it all !
    Where are these teams now !
    All with Peter Taylor, the other genius, at his side.
    My favourite sports book, “Provided You Don’t Kiss Me: 20 Years With Brian Clough”, by Duncan Hamilton charts it all !
    Cloughie you are missed !

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    Mute David o'neill
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    Dec 22nd 2014, 10:46 AM

    That’s a class book alright … I’d say Duncan had some craic writing it !!!

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