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13 May 2010 14:39:32
Forget the threat of swine flu and the volcanic ash cloud – only the lack of cash has stopped race walker Micheal Doyle in his tracks.
The Irishman, who hails from County Meath, had achieved the qualifying time to fly to Mexico for a World Cup race this Saturday (15 May).
But the dire economic climate back home has meant the Irish race walking federation has pulled the plug on sending him to South America this weekend.
Micheal, who turns 23 on Monday (17 May), is in the final year of a Sport and PE degree at the University of Bedfordshire.
He said: “It would cost a few thousand pounds if I paid for myself and it would not feel as though you were representing your country quite so much.”
Micheal started race walking when he was 12 because “it looked funny and so I thought I’d give it a go”.
The talented sportsman also excelled in Gaelic football and rugby in his teens before deciding to concentrate on race walking. His initial breakthrough came when he finished a creditable 35th in the junior (under-20s) world championships over 10k in Spain in 2006.
Micheal then struggled after moving into the senior ranks over the longer 20k distance before making great strides in the last 12 months or so.
He is ranked the number one student in the country by BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) for 20k, as well as being in the top 100 for all ages in the world.
His 14th place finish in the world challenge event in Switzerland earlier this year knocked four minutes off his 20k personal best to a little under 87 minutes. This saw him achieve the qualifying time for the Mexican World Cup race before his plans were thwarted.
This all takes dedication and Micheal trains twice a day and between 10-14 times each week, clocking up an average of 90-105 miles weekly.
He said: “I definitely watch what I eat and take the right things after training to recover. I also went to South Africa in February for altitude training, will possibly go to Spain this summer, and have even slept in an altitude tent for a month!”
Micheal is one of this year’s 16 elite sport scholars at the University who each receive financial assistance to boost their training and development.
He said: “The University has been a big help to me, especially Julia Lines and Charles Birtwisle. I can’t thank them enough.”
Now the London 2012 Games are firmly in his sights and he said: “The 2012 Olympics are my main target at the moment but I’m still young and progressing in the sport. People usually peak in their early 30s, so time is on my side.”
Other goals include qualifying for the World Student Games - the Olympics for students - in China in 2011.
Latest news» 2010» May» Luck of the Irish deserts race walker
