Sharlene Mawdsley pulled up injured in Saturday’s national 200m final, a worrying blow for the Tipperary sprinter just a few weeks out from the European Championships.

Mawdsley lined up alongside Rhasidat Adeleke for the final, a mouthwatering proposition as the two faces of Irish sprinting went head-to-head for national glory. Mawdsley was defending her national title, while Adeleke was chasing European Championship qualification.

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27-year-old Mawdsley has been in electric form this year, repeatedly bettering her 400m PB over the opening months of the season, and qualified for the national 200m final with a time of 23.50.

Just ahead of her in the heats with 23.32 was the returning Rhasidat Adeleke, who has grappled with injuries since the 2024 Olympics in Paris but appears to be returning to her best.

There were to be contrasting emotions in the final. Adeleke needed to run 22.85 or quicker to secure her place in next month’s European Championships in Birmingham, and did that – just about – with a 22.80 to secure national gold.

It proved to be an unexpectedly comprehensive victory, largely due to Sharlene Mawdsley pulling up after just 80 metres with what looked to be a worrying muscle injury.

Sharlene Mawdsley: Irish sprinter injured

Just a few seconds into Saturday’s 200m final, Mawdsley pulled up on the turn, quickly moving to the side of the track in visible discomfort.

Contrasting emotions for Ireland’s two sprinting superstars in today’s 200m national final

While Rhasidat Adeleke secured a Europeans spot with a 22.80 win, Sharlene Mawdsley pulled up 80m in with a worrying injury

Fingers crossed it’s not too serious pic.twitter.com/jw9w7w6YSY

— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 25, 2026

The commentators on Athletics Ireland’s livestream were initially quite concerned, saying that the injury looked to be a bad one. Even when Mawdsley eventually got to her feet and was helped off the track by staff at Morton Stadium, they continued to express concern.

Images published on Sportsfile showed a distraught Mawdsley leaving the track in tears. She was helped off the track by her partner, Tipperary hurler Mikey Breen.

25 July 2026; Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport A.C., Tipperary, reacts after pulling out of the women’s 200m final during day one of the 123.ie National Senior Track & Field Championships 2026 at Morton Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Mawdsley looked in some discomfort, and one would have to fear for her chances of making the European Championships in Birmingham, which get underway in just two weeks.

It’s a brutal blow for Sharlene Mawdsley, coming during a stretch which found the sprinter in the form of her life.

Mawdsley has bettered her 400m PB a whopping four times this year, starting with her 50.52 at Savona in May. That came down to 50.17 in Brussels just days later, before she lowered it once again to 50.14 at the FBK Games in Hengelo last month.

Her maiden Diamond League outing in Paris in late June saw her once again beat her PB, moving her close to breaking the 50-second barrier with a 50.06.

Mawdsley’s times marked her out as the 5th fastest European sprinter over 400m in 2026, an immense achievement for an athlete who had not run below 50.50 at the start of this year.

Sharlene Mawdsley set for Monday scan as Europeans loom

RTÉ reporter Greg Allen has confirmed via social media that Mawdsley will undergo a scan next Monday.

The Irish atheltics superstar will learn the extent of her injury imminentely, but showed her class in spite of her current plight.

Allen noted that Mawdslet signed every fan autograph asked of her, while putting on a brave face in the wake of her setback.

Top class.

Sharlene Mawdsley was class today. Crushed I’m sure at pulling up 80m into the women’s 200m at Nationals & yet signed every fan autograph as though nothing untoward had happened. Scan next Monday will determine if she runs in European C’ships. Photo by my old pal Frank Greally…. pic.twitter.com/uWEMqgxLyH

— Greg Allen (@gregallenRTE) July 25, 2026

To miss out on a European Championship while in this sort of form would be a devastating blow for Mawdsley, and a bitter pill to swallow for the Newport athlete.

It would also be a bitter blow for Team Ireland, whose 4x400m relay hopes hang largely on the superb anchor legs which have become Sharlene Mawdsley’s trademark at major championships.

Fingers crossed it is a speedy recovery for the Tipp athlete and she is back on the track sooner rather than later.

The European Athletics Championships take place in Birmingham from August 8-15. We’ll update this post further as soon as we have information on the extent of Sharlene Mawdsley’s injury.