Come on Aileen

Aileen is one of Ireland’s top athletes and she will represent her country with pride on Saturday August 4, when she takes on the Triathlon in London’s Hyde Park.

Whilst Aileen grew up in Derry/Londonderry, she has been living in Lisburn for a number of years, and as a member of Lisburn Cycling Club Maryland Wheelers and Lisburn City Swimming Club, two of her three Olympic disciplines have very much been prepared for locally.

Friends and team mates at Maryland Wheelers have already planned to meet on the big day to watch Aileen race together, and they very much hope they can witness her on her way to medal glory.

A second place finish in Madrid last month saw Aileen touted as a great medal hope, however a stitch saw her fall to 36th in Hamburg last weekend. Aileen’s partner David Reid says he believes this will help to take the pressure off ahead of such a major event.

David said: “Aileen will be in a bubble for the next week training and preparing. The Olympics are something special. There are World Championships each year, but this is once every four years.

“Her form has been good recently, and she finished second in Madrid, but then she ran terribly in Hamburg, so she’s gone from second to 36th. It just shows what can happen if something goes wrong. After Madrid, it’s not that people were hanging a medal around her neck, but expectations definitely increased, so this probably takes that pressure off now.”

David, who is Chairman of the City of Lisburn Athletics Club, runs and cycles along the Towpath with Aileen, although not quite to Aileen’s 100km per week standard, says her training with the local clubs has helped Aileen prepare for the Olympics.

“There’s no doubt about it, it has helped.”

David will be in London with Aileen’s family for the Triathlon.

“They are expecting a million and a half spectators, because it is free, so it will be nice for her to be a part of that.”

David’s family will also hold a party in Lisburn, whilst a bar in Malin Head, where the couple holiday will open especially for the event.

“We’re just all proud of her achievements so far, and no matter what happens in London we’ll be proud, but hopefully she’ll do amazing.”

Speaking about Aileen’s involvement at London 2012, Maryland Wheelers team mate Michael Murray said: “I must admit it is something special. We are all very keen for her to do well. The club will be meeting to watch together.

“The club was filmed out training for a TV show about the Olympics and that added to the whole excitement.

“Aileen is a very strong runner and swimmer, so she’s been concentrating on the cycling, as we would obviously have a lot of guys in the club who are involved in races.”

Michael added: “From our point of view we do know Aileen has put in so much effort and how hard she’s worked. We wish her lots of luck and are definitely proud of her whatever happens at the Olympics.

“Her performances have continually improved so she is on the right path and should do pretty well.

“We’ll certainly have a good party for her when she comes back,” he added.

Hamilton Topping, the Chairman of Maryland Wheelers said: “We are very proud of Aileen and are obviously rooting for her. We have been watching her development very closely and it is a privilege to have her in the club.

“I’ve been impressed with her as a person, and she has developed as a cyclist. She is a hard woman, a tough athlete, but she always has a smile on her face and doesn’t let things get her down.

“Maryland Wheelers has had a long line of top athletes in our 75 years. We’re delighted to see Aileen get this far and we’re hoping she can do really well in London and beyond, for there is more to come after this.”

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