Irish Runner Smashes Personal Record Twice in 3 Days

Sharlene Mawdsley shattered her personal best time twice in three days, racing into the record books with a stunning 50.17-second finish in Belgium's 400m competition yesterday.

The 27-year-old Tipperary runner first broke her record on Wednesday in Italy with a time of 50.52 seconds. Then she did it again just days later, shaving off another 0.35 seconds at the IFAM Outdoors meet.

Her previous best was 50.71 seconds, set during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now she's nearly half a second faster than her Olympic performance.

Mawdsley's athletic achievements tell an impressive story. She earned relay gold and silver medals at the 2024 European Athletics Championships. Most recently, her anchor leg at the World Relays secured Ireland's spot at the World Athletics Championships.

But her message off the track might be even more powerful than her times on it.

Why This Inspires

Mawdsley recently opened up about her journey with body confidence and self-acceptance. She admitted that wearing minimal race kits once made her uncomfortable because she lacked confidence in how she looked.

Now she sees things completely differently. "I look at what my body can do and, for me, that definition of strength is so important," she told The Times.

She's learned to celebrate her body for its capabilities rather than criticize its appearance. That shift in perspective has transformed both her athletic performance and her mental health.

When internet trolls criticized her for doing her makeup before races, she laughed it off. "If she spent less time doing her make-up she might actually run fast," one comment read.

Her response? She keeps doing exactly what makes her feel good. Whether she's running for Ireland or going to town with her mum, she shows up as her authentic self.

Mawdsley has built a following of 273,000 people on social media who connect with her honest approach. Her success has led to brand partnerships and magazine covers, but she hasn't changed who she is.

"I think everyone should be allowed to express themselves in whatever way they want to," she explained. "It's something that makes me happy, I'm not going to stop doing it just because there might be one or two negative comments."

Her message resonates because it's simple: strength isn't just about speed or medals, it's about showing up fully as yourself and celebrating what your body can accomplish.