Tipperary Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley shares update on extent of 'double Dutch' injury scare

Tipperary's Sharlene Mawdsley has shared an update on the "devastating" injury that forced her withdrawal from the European Indoor Championships last week. 

The Newport sprinter, who had delivered a stunning anchor leg 49.93 seconds in Ireland's 4x400m mixed relay, was left devastated after a hamstring issue flared up during her warm-up for the event. 

Despite feeling positive the morning after her relay performance, she was unable to take to the track in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport’s David Gillick last Thursday, Mawdsley explained: "I was in my warm-up this morning and my hamstring just kept getting worse and worse. I was not even in my spikes, I was still striding in my runners. And it was too sore.”

"It just wasn't meant to be today which is obviously really devastating. After last night, I had so much confidence.

"It's not often I would back myself to think I could make the final and I really believed I could. It's hard.

"My hamstring was a bit tight yesterday. I had physio just before I went into the call room and that settled it. I felt really good yesterday after (that) and this morning as well.

"But it just persisted in the warm-up today. If I went onto the track, it would have gotten worse and worse and I didn't want to tear it completely. I'll have to wait for an MRI and an ultrasound to see what the actual damage is.

"September was always the focus for us. We never really put an emphasis on indoors but when you are in good shape, you want to show the world.

"At least I got to do it a little bit yesterday. My split time was really fast and showed I was definitely in PB shape. It's just devastating not to be able to show that today."

On Tuesday, Mawdsley posted a positive update on her injury to her 227,000 Instagram followers.

Posting to her story, the Tipperary native said: "A little update as my DMs have been crazy (& lovely) asking about my leg.

"I was in for a scan on my hamstring yesterday," she stated before elaborating: "I have a small tear in my Tendon of biceps femoris (double Dutch to me).

"I am already starting my rehab program with my team & will hopefully be back running in the next couple of weeks.

"I'm blessed with the team I have around me," she added to the post. 

Easing her time spent laid up, the 26-year-old looked to her furry friend for "emotional support".

Earlier this month, Mawdsley celebrated a new addition to her family in the form of an adorable golden Cockapoo puppy named Lola. 

While her rehabilitation keeps her off the track, Mawdsley shared a cute photo of Lola teasing: "Just because I can't run doesn't mean Lola can't."

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