Michelle Finn.
When the opening ceremony for the 2016 Rio Olympics takes place tomorrow week, Friday 5th August, North Cork will be watching out for athlete Michelle Finn as she proudly marches behind the Irish flag. Michelle will be competing in the 3,000 metre steeplechase competition at Rio alongside Kerry O’Flaherty and Sarah Treacy, and she is no stranger to top-class competition, having won a team bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in 2014.
A native of Kanturk, Michelle runs in the colours of Leevale AC and is well known at road and track races and cross-country events all over Munster. The running gene is strong in her family, as her sister Carol is also a top athlete, while her parents Toddy and Mary were strong runners in their time at races all over the region. Many local organisations have been holding fundraising events in recent months to help pay for Michelle’s expenses, and as she prepares to fly out with the Ireland team everyone is wishing her well in her endeavours. Go, Michelle!