8 years ago, she was Ireland's golden girl. Now, she's taking a break
An accomplished runner who became the first Irish woman to win a sprint gold medal at the 2017 European junior championships over 100 metres, she is currently undertaking a master's apprenticeship in London as a clinical associate psychologist.
When asked how she is finding it, Akpe-Moses's one-word response is telling. 'Exhausting,' she says.
Before the emergence of fellow prodigy Rhasidat Adeleke, Akpe-Moses was perceived as the great sprinting hope of Irish athletics.
Yet as Adeleke's star has brightened, Akpe-Moses's has faded.
And in the last few weeks, the 26-year-old has made a big decision.
For many years, she has tried to remain at the top of her sport while working 12-hour shifts on psychiatric wards, among other arduous tasks that her day job presented. Eventually, it became too much.
'I've been training alongside working in education, but I've had to take a step back from athletics, because I wasn't able to produce anything decent,' she tells The 42. 'I just was too tired. It's very hard to juggle all three, and athletics had to be the one to go.
'It just was a constant cycle of, I'm training well, but when it comes to racing, I have such a busy week, I'm not recovering properly, so it's ineffective. But knowing the reason why doesn't make it any less frustrating. So it's better to take myself out of that situation before I get worse.'
Elaborating on the decision and the reasons behind it, Akpe-Moses adds: 'I'm at peace with it. I think there's not much I can do about it. Going into my course, I did have an idea of what it would be like, so I wasn't completely thrown off by how intense it was going to be.
'I was a little bit thrown off in terms of, I didn't know how it would affect me physically. But I'm the type of person who will get on with everything, so I'm usually good at multitasking. I mean, I'm going to do a lot, but I am only human, so my body will tell me whenever I'm just not in that place, and that's what happened.
'I was a bit upset, but I was fine, life goes on, [and in terms of the] future for athletics, I'm still undecided. So, taking this summer off, I'll see where I am by winter, if I decide to move forward or not. It's still a process.'
Gina Akpe-Moses pictured at the 2018 European Athletics Championships. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Ideally, Akpe-Moses says, she would have been able to put work aside and focus purely on athletics.
But for someone who grew up in an academic household and had passions outside of sport, the prospect of sacrificing education in pursuit of this dream felt like a stark compromise.
'In a perfect world, I would have gone through this next Olympic cycle and then retired after that,' she says. 'But it's not feasible to work full time, and then also give track full time as well, because you're always going to have that little bit you could have given to either of your careers.
Advertisement
'And even after I qualify, I'll be a qualified psychologist — I will have a lot on my caseload. So if I wanted to continue after qualification, there's still a decision of managing my work life with track. And both require a lot of mental and physical elements for me.'
She insists, however, that trying to secure a place at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is not out of the question.
'It's a work in progress, just thinking about everything, weighing up the pros and the cons and seeing how my life, my adult life, is panning out, the responsibilities I have to adhere to and everything. So it's not completely shut off, but I have a lot of thinking to do.'
Asked about her reflections on that memorable European success eight years on, Akpe-Moses replies: 'I don't think about it much, because it was quite a while ago.
'The other day, one of the members of my club in Blackrock, Dundalk, sent me a message with a screenshot of me winning at Europeans. And I was like: 'Oh my goodness, it's been such a while.' And, yeah, it was nice to think about, that was such a great time.'
However, the accompanying hype and publicity that followed the victory were not easy to deal with.
'It's a bit of an oxymoron, because if you're running well, people are going to see you, and you're going to be in the public eye. But I prefer people to leave me alone and let me do what I need to do. I'm happy to get my accomplishments and tick off what's on my list of goals.
'So when everything happened and I was getting lots of attention, it was quite hard for me. Looking back, I had a good support system, so I could manage it. But it did add a lot of pressure, moving forward.
'I became a contracted athlete — I was more of a professional athlete. So the element of it being quite relaxed and me not having that much pressure, it shifted.'
Gina Akpe-Moses became an Irish sports sensation in 2017. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Akpe-Moses was just 18 when she became a household name in the Irish sporting landscape, although she was a familiar face in athletics circles long before then.
With hindsight, she realises not every decision made in the aftermath of this success was the right one.
'That's the kind of environment I was put into when I had to make decisions that I didn't have enough experience making, and I put my trust in people who I thought had more experience.
'I feel like not having that autonomy, looking back at it now, knowing that I was overwhelmed and I put my trust in other people, I feel it did me more harm than good.
'If I were a bit older and this happened, I would have made better decisions. I'd look at things through a different lens, and I feel like I'd be more comfortable taking on all that pressure with the people watching me and everything.'
Asked to specify some of the missteps, she responds: 'I think just as a whole, I mean in terms of what coach I decided to go to with, even just agencies, all that kind of stuff, things that are quite important.
'But I wasn't in a place to think about it in that sense, because it was all very new to me. So I just let everyone else be like: 'Oh yeah, this is good. Just go for this one.'
'If I were to do that now, I would do a lot more research. I'd talk to people. I would question them, how they work, what their philosophies are, and how they would manage me in this situation. And I would want to get the full truth of everything.
'I think letting other people help me, or push for certain decisions or certain things to be done, I thought I was protected, but I wasn't protected. It was more, I just chose to ignore things because it was too much.'
Gina's sister Precious is also a talented athlete. Last month, at the National U20 Championships, she won double gold in the 100m (11.64) and 200m (23.66), with the latter achievement seeing her break a record that had stood since 2000.
Gina hopes the 19-year-old can learn from her mistakes.
'She's very different to me, I tell her to do what makes her happy, and if things get difficult, just to take a step back, if she needs to do that, because I feel like if things are difficult for me, I tend to power through. But sometimes that's not the
most effective way to handle it when things are getting a bit tough.
'Whatever she decides, if she decides to [go professional], I'll be the person that she can go to, and I'll ask all the right questions, and I'll be the bad cop where it needs to be.'
World high jump silver medalist Sommer Lecky with World silver medal in the 4x100m relay Rhasidat Adeleke Patience Jumbo-Gula, Gina Akpe-Moses, Ciara Neville and Molly Scott in 2018. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO
Akpe-Moses and Adeleke's paths briefly intersected, and the talented duo remain friends to this day.
The pair were part of the Irish 4 × 100 m team that won a silver medal at the 2018 World U20 Championships.
Adeleke was just 15 years old, while Molly Scott, Ciara Neville and Patience Jumbo-Gula also made key contributions to this remarkable achievement.
The Tallaght AC athlete is the only one of the quintet who has since risen to superstar status, suggesting Adeleke, not Akpe-Moses, is the anomaly in this scenario.
'I was fortunate to break through at my age and as a junior,' Akpe-Moses says. 'But then I think the difference with myself and Rhasidat — she was put in a good environment that nurtured her talent and propelled her forward where she needed to be.
'And then with Molly and Ciara, they also just had things like university, and they have other aspirations — Molly is a barrister now. So she also had something she wanted to pursue.
'And I think it just shows how difficult it is, even when you break through as a junior, to maintain that and to be nurtured in that sense.
'You do have to take a gamble. And I think athletics is just a sport where there is an element of luck. I feel like this with everything in life, there's an element of luck to it, and if you're meant to be somewhere, you're going to be somewhere.
'And I think for myself, as much as I really enjoyed track, and I was good at it, and everything was going quite well, I've always had the mindset of, I don't fully identify as just an athlete. I always wanted something more. So I think I've always been fighting that battle.
'The majority of athletes, and just the track in itself, you do have to risk it all. You have to put your all into it, because if not, you're not going to know how good you could have been or how it isn't for you, you'll never really know the truth.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Irish soccer players invited to join group ‘owed billions' over contract and transfer rules
League of Ireland players and Irish players who took part in professional soccer in the UK and EU have been invited to join a 'potentially billion-dollar' class action claim against Fifa and possibly other soccer associations.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Colman Noctor: Vital for children to explore movement and skill development without pressure
Most people will know that last week, Irish rugby international Hugo Keenan became a national hero by scoring the winning try to clinch the series for the British and Irish Lions. What many aren't aware of is that as a child, Keenan was unable to secure a spot on the Under-14 C rugby team for Blackrock College. His journey highlights the importance of perseverance, belief, and growth... while also serving as a warning against dismissing young athletes too soon. Children's sport can be one of the most formative parts of growing up. For some, it fosters lifelong confidence and happiness. For others, it becomes a source of stress or exclusion. So it's worth examining where we're getting things right and where we may be falling short. Few things bring parents more joy than observing their children having fun while engaging in physical activity, whether it's on a football pitch, diving into a pool, or performing a gymnastics routine. Parents are pleased when a child enjoys a sport because it offers them more than just physical benefits —it fosters teamwork, character, and social skills. However, as youth culture becomes increasingly performance-driven, the focus on movement and enjoyment often diminishes, and competition and winning can become the focus. In some cases, children can quickly find themselves assessed, ranked, and excluded before they've even had a chance to develop. At this time of year, summer sports camps like the GAA Cúl Camps are notable for their focus on fun and participation, without league tables or pressure to perform. Many children prefer these over the regular season, which often involves competitive stress. A key advantage of these camps is the involvement of teenage or young adult coaches. These 'cool' role models often connect better with kids than parent-coaches; and offer a positive, aspirational presence. This model could be applied beyond sport. Imagine youth clubs run by older teenagers, providing mentorship to younger children while giving the older ones a sense of responsibility and purpose in return. This could also help alleviate the boredom and isolation many 14-16-year-olds face during summer breaks. We should also think more broadly about movement, beyond just sport. While childhood obesity and sedentary behaviours are increasing, children still have limited opportunities for movement outside structured sports. A University of Bristol study showed that teen obesity rose from 22% in 2008–2010 to 33% in 2021–2023, with screen time and ultra-processed foods being key factors. This becomes a bigger problem if your child does not like organised sports. Adults have many ways to stay active, such as gyms, spinning classes, and hiking groups, but similar non-competitive activities are not widely available to most children. When competitive sports are the only option for movement, many kids miss out. Jacob Gosnell, Aodhán Gallagher and Aidan Byrne take a break from play at the Kellogg's Cúl Camp at St Micheal's Gaelic Football Club, Mahon, Cork. One hundred and twenty children are attending the five-day gaelic football camp this week. Picture Larry Cummins We need to accept that traditional sports settings don't work for every child. Early streaming into competitive teams creates pressure, often leading children to conclude that sport isn't for them. Worse still, some coaches write them off too soon. Children are sometimes placed on 'elite' tracks based on their perceived potential at the ages of 12 or 13. But there needs to be a realisation that children develop at different rates physically, emotionally, and cognitively. The child who struggles with coordination at seven might shine at 12 — but only if given the opportunity. Development in childhood is far from straightforward. Labelling children as 'not good enough' discourages participation, reduces confidence, and causes early dropout. The pressure to perform often kills the natural joy of movement, and once that's gone, it's difficult to regain. Hugo Keenan's story illustrates this well. Initially ignored in school sports, he developed into a world-class player, and his success serves as a reminder not to judge potential too soon. How many future stars have we missed by making early assumptions? We should view sport as a long-term journey, not just a race to the top. It's about who remains engaged and enjoys it at 18, not who's best at eight. Parents and coaches have a significant influence on children's attitudes towards sport. Our messages carry strong weight. If we focus only on winning and awards, we risk causing anxiety and reducing enjoyment. However, when we emphasise effort, teamwork, and perseverance, we build confidence and cultivate a love for movement and activity. Children should understand that their worth isn't determined by their performance. It's fine to have a poor game, try something new, or enjoy an activity without needing to be 'the best' at it. Ambition is important, but goals should focus on the process rather than the outcome. Instead of asking 'Did you win and did you score?', try saying 'I admire how you didn't give up when things got tough' or simply 'Did you enjoy it?'. As parents, we should avoid trying to achieve our sporting ambitions vicariously through our children. It's natural to worry that our children are falling behind, especially in an era of competitive clubs and early specialisation. However, more isn't always better. Burnout is real. Research indicates that young athletes tend to thrive when they participate in various sports, engage in informal play, and take regular breaks. Findings from a study by German sports scientist Arne Güllich and colleagues in 2023 revealed that while athletes who peak early may accrue more specific training early on, most world-class adult athletes tend to diversify more in youth, specialising later and benefiting from broader skill development and better long-term performance. What's the rush? Children have years to develop skills, strength, and strategy. What they need most now is space to explore movement and skill development without pressure. Significantly, we need to expand our definition of physical activity. Not every child wants to participate in team sports, and that is perfectly fine. Too often, we equate 'active' with 'sporty'. However, movement can also include activities such as dancing, hiking, skateboarding, tree climbing, yoga, and cycling, which are often more inclusive and less intimidating. These non-competitive forms of movement can encourage creativity, confidence, and self-expression and also provide a welcome relief from the comparison and pressure found in organised sport. Children who move with agility and confidence are often those who've played freely in varied environments. Climbing in a playground builds coordination and strength. Balancing on a log develops core stability. Dancing at home fosters rhythm and emotional release. These activities are foundational, not secondary. As parents, we can nurture a positive attitude towards movement in our children. Begin by supporting their interests without projecting your own past ambitions or concerns onto them. Allow children to explore multiple activities and celebrate their progress and effort. Promote curiosity, perseverance, and avoid rushing to judge their abilities too early. Children don't need to be the best, and we shouldn't make them feel like they have to be. They need to feel capable, included, and supported so they can enjoy movement and sport in spaces where they feel that they belong. By enabling children to develop at their own pace, experience movement without fear of judgment, and explore a variety of physical activities, we not only build better athletes but also nurture healthier, more well-rounded individuals. Instead of being the generation known for the need for 'silent sideline' initiatives, let's be the generation that redefined success in youth sport. Let's establish a measure of achievement that isn't based on the number of trophies on the shelf, but on the smiles on the field, the laughter in the dance, and a lifelong love of movement for its own sake. Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
'I lived out in the sticks in Athenry. Two donkeys outside, free potatoes'
MOST PLAYERS WHO move to Connacht live in Galway, but Ciaran Booth isn't like every other rugby player. He marches to his own beat, literally. 25-year-old Booth, who now plays in Sydney with top Shute Shield club Easts, is the drummer in an indie rock band called The Monday Night Club. They've got a couple of EPs on Spotify. One of Booth's biggest goals in life is to cycle around the world. The former Ireland U20 international has a lively Instagram account called Ciaran Does Things, where he shares some of his outdoor adventures. So it's no surprise that he ended up living somewhere a bit different when he spent three-and-a-half years with Connacht, who he joined in 2020. 'I lived out in the sticks in Athenry,' says the affable, outgoing Booth as he sits in a restaurant in Bondi Junction. 'The lads used to always rip me for it. It was a bungalow with two donkeys outside, some chickens, a turf fire, free potatoes, free eggs. Rent was €500 a month and it was only 20 minutes to Galway. 'I'd train all day with the lads in Galway but by the time I got to 3 o'clock, I was ready for some quiet time.' Nowadays, back row Booth and his girlfriend, Lucy, are living in the hustle and bustle of Bondi Beach, one of the busiest suburbs you could find. He sometimes misses the peace of Athenry, the greenery of Ireland, and its people, but rugby and life in Sydney are good. Easts, the defending champions, are sitting clear at the top of the Shute Shield with one more round to go until the play-offs. They'll be hard to dethrone. Booth reckons those years in Galway were the best of his life so far. He won five senior caps for the province and loved learning from coaches like Mossy Lawler, Cullie Tucker, and Eric Elwood. Booth is a native of Manchester and initially came through the academy with Sale Sharks, but he has Irish blood from his dad's side of the family. Booth's granny is from Ballinasloe in County Galway and his granddad hails from Strandhill in Sligo. Booth's parents have a house in Strandhill, so they would visit three or four times a year when Ciaran was growing up. Back then, Flybe used to fly direct from Manchester to Strandhill. Booth played for Connacht five times. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO So as Booth was making his way in Sale, he came onto the radar of the Irish Exiles, although he nearly missed his chance when Wayne Mitchell, the Exiles' talent ID officer at the time, came to watch him play. 'Wayne came to one of my Sale games and I didn't know who he was,' recalls Booth with a laugh. 'He was like, 'How are you doing? Good to see you.' I just said, 'Good, cheers, see you later' and walked off. 'Thankfully, he got my number and called me a few days later!' Advertisement Booth had been focused on playing for England, but he missed out on their U18s to his bitter disappointment, just before the Irish door opened. Given his roots, it made sense and he was soon playing for the Ireland U18s. He jumped swiftly to the U19 side and then got a late call-up to Noel McNamara's Ireland U20 squad for the World Cup in 2019, despite still being a year young, after Scott Penny was ruled out injured. Things were suddenly accelerating for Booth as he joined the likes of Craig Casey, Ryan Baird, and Thomas Clarkson at the tournament in Argentina. He came off the bench in a win over England. 'That was like childhood trauma cured,' says Booth. 'That was a massive release, a very special moment.' David Nucifora, the IRFU's performance director at the time, spoke to Booth about a potential move to one of the Irish provinces. And then, the next day against Italy, Booth started at openside. He jackaled at an early breakdown. Disaster struck. Anyone who saw Booth's horrific knee injury at the time can probably still remember it. The first Italian player tried to croc roll him and fell to Booth's left, dragging at him as he fought to stay on his feet. Then, a couple of seconds later, the second Italian player thundered in at full speed completely from the side on his right. Booth's left knee folded. 'I can still hear it,' he says with a wince. 'It sounded like a Coke can getting crunched.' Booth had always been diligent with his injury prevention work. He rarely had injuries. But there is no prehab that can have prevented a horror injury like this. 'It's the most painful thing you've ever felt. It's the sudden realisation of, 'Oh shit, this is what it feels like, this is happening. 'My first thought… you could hear me on the ref mic, saying, 'No, no, no, no.' You just know a year of your life is gone.' Booth playing for Buccaneers in the AIL. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO The knee was mangled, says Booth. His ACL was ruptured. His MCL was ruptured. His PCL was ruptured. There was severe LCL damage, too. Some might have feared that it would be the end of rugby, but Booth just got busy getting better. He needed two operations, including an allograft for his PCL, which involves using a dead person's ankle ligament as a replacement. It took Booth 18 months, or 547 days, to make his return and it came for the Connacht Eagles against Leinster A. Nucifora and the IRFU kept faith in Booth after his injury and there was a chance he could have moved to Ulster, but Connacht was the right fit. 'Once you get back, you're like, 'Shit, I've got to get good again,'' says Booth. He raves about his time in Connacht, where he spent two seasons with the academy and then moved onto a senior deal for the 2022/23 season, during which he played twice in the URC and three times in the Challenge Cup. 'Just the smallest details were all they cared about when I was in the academy,' says Booth. 'It wasn't about the big picture. 'Andy Murphy, one of the S&C coaches at Connacht, always used to say, 'I'm not training you to be the best rugby player this weekend when you play in AIL. I'm training you to be the best rugby player in five years' time.' 'Mossy and the lads were just relentless every single day, sessions nailing the basics, catch-pass, breakdown, everything. 'You can see it the whole way up the chain to the Irish team, the smallest details, the tiniest little things like catching your passes square, keeping your feet in the breakdown, you can see where it all comes from. And it works.' Booth reckons he might settle down in Ireland when he's done with the adventures. He still chats to the crew in Connacht and Cathal Forde recently stayed with him on a visit to Sydney, payback for when Booth used to sleep on Forde's couch after nights out in Gaklway. He was saddened to be released by Connacht in 2023 and his time with Jersey Reds in the English Championship was short-lived because they folded soon after Booth joined. He ended up playing for Caldy in the Championship and then back with Sale as injury cover. Booth is now playing in Sydney with Easts. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO The connection to Sydney was former Munster centre Alex McHenry, who was also in Jersey when the club went into liquidation and then won the Shute Shield with Easts last year before moving to Melbourne. Living in Bondi had an obvious appeal. As well as playing for Easts this year, Booth is coaching rugby at a school called Waverley College and leading strength classes at 98 Gym in Bondi. But this is not a permanent step out of full-time professional rugby for Booth. The Shute Shield is high-quality and Booth mentions how the likes of Cormac Daly have jumped from the club competition into Super Rugby in the recent past. Booth is also keeping his ear to the ground for any pro chances in France, the US, and Japan. 'It has been a complete breath of fresh air here, rugby-wise,' says Booth. 'Everyone's super competitive, the coaches are really good, and I'm more fired up for games and training than I've been in a long time. 'Now, I just want to play professional rugby. I'm at the point now where if I don't play for Ireland, which was always the goal, but if that doesn't happen, I'll live. 'You never know, there's people that come back at 30 and get back in, shit happens, but now I just want to play professional rugby at the highest standard I can.' Whatever comes next, it seems unlikely to be boring. Ciaran does things differently.
