Gillian O'Sullivan

Who is Gillian O'Sullivan?

Gillian O'Sullivan is an Irish race walker. She has held the world record in the 5000m walk since 2002 and won a silver medal at the world championship in 2003 over 20km. It was the first time since 1995 that an Irish athlete had won a World Championship medal. Six years later in Berlin at the World Championships Olive Loughnane won silver at the same event as O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan was also the first Irish athlete to win a medal in the walk at an Athletics Championship. O'Sullivan was one of the main contenders for Ireland to win a medal in the Olympics in Athens in 2004 in the 20km walk but suffered an injury just before the games that prevented her from taking part. O'Sullivan retired on April 19, 2007 after years of injuries.

She now works as a personal trainer and runs a series of health, fitness and motivation talks in Cork.