Chris O'Donnell and Mona McSharry for Olympics
Donation protected
"It’s like buses. We had a very long wait for a Sligo Olympian. For two to come at once is amazing." (The42.ie, 2021)
FROM A GRAVEL TRACK AND A SMALL HOTEL POOL IN NORTH SLIGO TO THE OLYMPICS IN TOKYO.
North Sligo AC, a small running club based in North Sligo, has created this GoFundMe page to raise funds for two outstanding individuals from our community, who despite limited facilities have qualified to compete for Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics.
Christopher and Mona have inspired us all in North Sligo.
They have spent most of their life training to achieve the ultimate dream by qualifying for the Olympics. What is most inspiring is that they did this despite limited facilities. We don’t have a tartan track or a 50m swimming pool in North Sligo. Christopher trained on a 400m gravel track in Grange for many years and Mona traveled to Ballyshannon throughout her childhood to train in a 25m pool. Despite this, Christopher and Mona trained every day, from an early age with the help of volunteer coaches from Grange and Ballyshannon.
They are proof that anything is possible with the right mindset, and family and community support behind you.
All donations to support Christopher and Mona, as they represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics, are greatly appreciated.
Feel free to share on your social media pages.
Christopher O’Donnell (23 years old) has been a member of our running club since he was in primary school and is the Irish National Champion in the 400m. He has qualified to represent Ireland in the 4 x 400 mixed relay along with Thomas Barr, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley. He is the current Irish U20 record holder in the 400 metres (46.54 seconds) and Irish senior champion over 400 metres, winning three titles in a row in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Mona McSharry (20 years old) was also a member of our running club who chose to concentrate on swimming. Mona is the holder of multiple breaststroke national senior records (50m, 100m and 200m in long course, 50m and 100m in short course). In August 2017, she became Junior World Champion in the 100m breaststroke. Earlier this year, Mona became the first Sligo-born athlete to qualify for the Olympics (since John Dykes in 1924).
Mona will be representing Ireland in the 100 m breaststroke.
After many years characterised by perseverance and discipline, O’Donnell believes there is one invaluable lesson that any athlete can take from his story:
“Stick at it, because you don’t know when your time will come and don’t be too disheartened if you’re not winning races by a mile when you’re 12 years old. You don’t have to. It’s more for fun at that stage. Your time will come if you keep working.”
Having two Olympians in North Sligo is the biggest thing that has happened in the 44-year history of North Sligo AC. Christopher O’Donnell is a member of our club and Mona was a member of our club until she chose to focus on swimming.
North Sligo AC has had a few athletes who have competed at European and World championships but never at the Olympics. This is so rare that no Sligo runner or swimmer has ever competed in them since the first modern Olympics were first held in Athens in 1896.
These two athletes have no sponsors. Up to now, their families have had to foot the bills for international flights, accommodation, training camps, physio, etc, it costs money to get to the level that they are at.
Chris and Mona have suffered injuries, setbacks, loss of form, disappointments, and lost lots of sweat and tears to get to where they are on their own steam. If we were their parents, we would be so proud that they overcame all the hidden obstacles that their sports threw at
them and now will compete in the greatest sporting event in the world.
All funds raised (after fees) will be split 50/50 between the two athletes and forwarded directly to their bank accounts. This will help fund this Olympic adventure as well as future attempts at the Olympics, European, and World Championships, as they are only starting their successful sporting future. This money will be spent on travel, medical fees, scientific testing, track and gym membership fees, consultancy fees such as dietitian and physio, foreign travel and accommodation for competitions and warm weather training abroad, footwear, and clothing.
This fundraiser has been reviewed and approved by the University of Tennessee Athletics Compliance Office.
FROM A GRAVEL TRACK AND A SMALL HOTEL POOL IN NORTH SLIGO TO THE OLYMPICS IN TOKYO.
North Sligo AC, a small running club based in North Sligo, has created this GoFundMe page to raise funds for two outstanding individuals from our community, who despite limited facilities have qualified to compete for Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics.
Christopher and Mona have inspired us all in North Sligo.
They have spent most of their life training to achieve the ultimate dream by qualifying for the Olympics. What is most inspiring is that they did this despite limited facilities. We don’t have a tartan track or a 50m swimming pool in North Sligo. Christopher trained on a 400m gravel track in Grange for many years and Mona traveled to Ballyshannon throughout her childhood to train in a 25m pool. Despite this, Christopher and Mona trained every day, from an early age with the help of volunteer coaches from Grange and Ballyshannon.
They are proof that anything is possible with the right mindset, and family and community support behind you.
All donations to support Christopher and Mona, as they represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics, are greatly appreciated.
Feel free to share on your social media pages.
Christopher O’Donnell (23 years old) has been a member of our running club since he was in primary school and is the Irish National Champion in the 400m. He has qualified to represent Ireland in the 4 x 400 mixed relay along with Thomas Barr, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley. He is the current Irish U20 record holder in the 400 metres (46.54 seconds) and Irish senior champion over 400 metres, winning three titles in a row in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Mona McSharry (20 years old) was also a member of our running club who chose to concentrate on swimming. Mona is the holder of multiple breaststroke national senior records (50m, 100m and 200m in long course, 50m and 100m in short course). In August 2017, she became Junior World Champion in the 100m breaststroke. Earlier this year, Mona became the first Sligo-born athlete to qualify for the Olympics (since John Dykes in 1924).
Mona will be representing Ireland in the 100 m breaststroke.
After many years characterised by perseverance and discipline, O’Donnell believes there is one invaluable lesson that any athlete can take from his story:
“Stick at it, because you don’t know when your time will come and don’t be too disheartened if you’re not winning races by a mile when you’re 12 years old. You don’t have to. It’s more for fun at that stage. Your time will come if you keep working.”
Having two Olympians in North Sligo is the biggest thing that has happened in the 44-year history of North Sligo AC. Christopher O’Donnell is a member of our club and Mona was a member of our club until she chose to focus on swimming.
North Sligo AC has had a few athletes who have competed at European and World championships but never at the Olympics. This is so rare that no Sligo runner or swimmer has ever competed in them since the first modern Olympics were first held in Athens in 1896.
These two athletes have no sponsors. Up to now, their families have had to foot the bills for international flights, accommodation, training camps, physio, etc, it costs money to get to the level that they are at.
Chris and Mona have suffered injuries, setbacks, loss of form, disappointments, and lost lots of sweat and tears to get to where they are on their own steam. If we were their parents, we would be so proud that they overcame all the hidden obstacles that their sports threw at
them and now will compete in the greatest sporting event in the world.
All funds raised (after fees) will be split 50/50 between the two athletes and forwarded directly to their bank accounts. This will help fund this Olympic adventure as well as future attempts at the Olympics, European, and World Championships, as they are only starting their successful sporting future. This money will be spent on travel, medical fees, scientific testing, track and gym membership fees, consultancy fees such as dietitian and physio, foreign travel and accommodation for competitions and warm weather training abroad, footwear, and clothing.
This fundraiser has been reviewed and approved by the University of Tennessee Athletics Compliance Office.
Organizer
North Sligo AC
Organizer
County Sligo, Sligo