Rhasidat Adeleke hasn't looked at her best so far in Paris, but has the capability of hitting the reset button and challenging for a medal on Friday night.
That’s the view of RTÉ Sport analyst David Matthews, who cautions that while the Irish sprinter is now among the best 400m runners in the world, it will be a tall order to get the upperhand on Dominican Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek.
That decorated trio are the only members of Friday’s field that have dipped under 49 seconds.
Adeleke finished second to Naser (49.95) in her semi-final to progress automatically, but it was far from a vintage performance, with the Tallaght woman admitting afterwards she had work to do after struggling at times in what she described as a "messy" race.
'That was a very messy race' – Rhasidat Adeleke tells @DavidGillick
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that while she is happy to be first Irish woman to make an Olympic sprint final, there is room for improvement #RTESport #Paris2024
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"I didn’t execute my first 200m like I should have, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed for the final," she said, adding that she panicked somewhat after the false start for Lieke Klaver which delayed the race.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland, Matthews, a two-time Olympian, agreed that Adeleke has looked a little off so far in Paris.
"There is no doubt she was a little bit rattled," he said. "She looked laboured in Monday’s heats and cantered over the line. Last night it was laboured.
"This is the greatest stage on earth. The Olympic Games is like no other, the world is watching.
"It does take its toll, but she has experienced that from the semi-final. She has to focus on what is outside of her, and on herself."
The University of Texas graduate has been drawn in lane four for the final, with Tokyo 400m silver medallist Paulino in six, reigning European champion Kaczmarek – who pipped Adeleke for gold in Rome in June – is seven and 2019 world champion Naser in eight.
Danger however lurks everywhere with Sada Williams of Barbados in lane one and Great Britian’s Amber Anning, the fourth fastest qualifier for the final, one lane outside of her in five.
Matthews believes that once Adeleke assesses what she needs to do – some of which she pointed out immediately after her semi-final – and executes a better race plan, she can challenge the world’s elite for a place on the podium.
"She is in lane four, a plum lane. She has Naser, Paulino and Kaczmarek outside of her. They have all beaten her, but she’s there and that’s all that matters.
"She does have to hit the reset button and go again.
"Rhasidat is at the top of her game, but so are the athletes around her. She has to believe in herself.
"It’s going to be a real scramble, with four going for three medals. That’s my thinking."
