Sonia O'Sullivan autobiography

[John G]

I've just started reading 'Sonia - My story' and can't recommend it highly enough. She's brutally honest, willing to admit mistakes and gives great insights into her training, life on the circuit, race tactics and how it feels to compete on the biggest stages. Quite a contrast to the snorefest that was Paula's book. I love her but her book read as if it had been edited to appeal to 'Hello' magazine readers who would be put off by boring athletics-related details like training and race tactics but would be fascinated by the early stages of her relationship with Gary.

[Halfmiler2]

I am curious. Does Sonia discuss at all the incident about her uniform at the 1996 Olympics?

[Matt]

Also read Sonia's and loved it. She does discuss the uniform saga and she says she believes the Chionese records to be tainted (Sonia was the biggest casualty of Ma's army in '93 WC).

I disagree with you, John, about Paula's book. I loved it.

[Powell]

I am curious. Does Sonia discuss at all the incident about her uniform at the 1996 Olympics?

What was the incident?

[Halfmiler2]

Apparently, she was wearing a uniform singlet that wasn't the official Irish uniform (different shoe company) and had to change it just before coming out on the track. It got written up in the SI Daily publication that was published during the Olympics.

[Powell]

Apparently, she was wearing a uniform singlet that wasn't the official Irish uniform (different shoe company) and had to change it just before coming out on the track. It got written up in the SI Daily publication that was published during the Olympics.

Thank you - but I thought it was something more exciting than that :P

[John G]

Apparently, she was wearing a uniform singlet that wasn't the official Irish uniform (different shoe company) and had to change it just before coming out on the track. It got written up in the SI Daily publication that was published during the Olympics.

Thank you - but I thought it was something more exciting than that :P

She describes it as a minor issue compared to twhat was really troubling her at the time - she was about to enter the Olympic 5k as favourite whilst completely devoid of energy and confidence. The reason ithe uniform business was big news was that the Irish official who ordered her to change did so moments before her heat, requiring her to strip in a public place.

[John G]

Also read Sonia's and loved it. She does discuss the uniform saga and she says she believes the Chionese records to be tainted (Sonia was the biggest casualty of Ma's army in '93 WC).

To be fair, she does not come across as bitter, and only says that on the balance of probabilities, she thinks the Chinese were on something (a view shared by 99% of us, I guess). She also says she'd love to have been able to speak to them and discuss their training (she says that Wang, who seemed really nice, once gave her her address ...... in Chinese) and credits them as the inspiration for her achievements in 94 and 95.

[John G]

I disagree with you, John, about Paula's book. I loved it.

OK - maybe my expectations were a little too high. What I will say is that Sonia comes out of her book as someone a little more mature and comfortable in her own skin and, above all, with more self-insight. I can't help feeling Paula's story would have been better written by someone else as an (unauthorised) biography, or alternatively, written in the future by Paula after her career, with the benefit of one or two year's reflection.