O'Sullivan wants to run for Australia
Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan today confirmed she would like to run for Australia in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The 35-year-old, who lives in Melbourne, says she will never renounce her Irish citizenship and will continue to represent her native country as long she is racing at international level.
But having spent so much time Down Under with partner Nic Bideau and her young daughters Ciara and Sophie, she wants to run in an Aussie vest at the Games next March.
“Why not?” O’Sullivan asked. “Over the years I’ve made many friends down here and they keep asking me when will I run for them.”
O’Sullivan, who became an Australian resident last year, today sent off her official application to become a full citizen of the country which, for almost a decade, has been her winter training residence.
“Both the girls have dual nationality so I see no reason, given I spend so much time here, to not also get an Australian passport,” said O’Sullivan, who claimed her Olympic 5,000 metres silver medal in Sydney five years ago.
She has the backing of Athletics Australia, who have written a supporting letter for her passport application.
“Now we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” O’Sullivan added. “But I really do want to compete in the Commonwealth Games for Australia.
“I suppose it will make for plenty of discussion in Ireland and possibly some controversy,” she admitted.
“I might be a little out of date, but if Roy Keane can play for Manchester United why can’t I represent another country?
“Let’s face it I am in the middle of it (the Games) here, and I really want to be a part of it.
“I already feel involved because of my training partners who I have been doing some hard work with.”
That was a reference to Australian duo Craig Mottram, the world 5,000m bronze medallist, and Benita Johnson, the former world cross-country champion.
“Australia has always given me a lot in the past and I genuinely want to give something back.
“It’s 30 degrees here tonight,” she said of her Melbourne base, which she fondly remembers in particular for her halcyon year of 1998 when she won both the long and short course World Cross Country Championship titles before claiming the European Championship 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals.
If O’Sullivan was to be given citizenship she would have to qualify like other Games hopefuls at the Australian trials from February 2 to 4.
