News

Shauna Doellken O’Shea Triathlete: Being an Athlete Is Part of My Identity

ByJoanne Murphy |

Shauna Doellken O’Shea from West Cork is a 23 year old triathlete who recently graduated from the University of Limerick, she is a member of Limerick Triathlon Club and has had a superb season of racing this year.

Winner of the Joey Hannon Triathlon, TriAthy Sprint, Hell of the West, Blackwater Olympic and Worlds End Triathlon, she was 2nd female at IRONMAN Ireland 70.3 in August, finished 3rd Elite Irish female in the National Sprint Championship and took home the silver medal in the Standard Distance National Championship as well this year.

With a background in football she took up running in her late teens, excelling in cross country and track running however,  it was an injury to her foot that sidelined her running and saw her take up swimming whilst recovering from that injury.  Dedicated to getting stronger and faster in the water with an unorthodox make-shift swimming pool at home during the pandemic, when the pools reopened and life started to get back to normal, she got picked up by the Triathlon Ireland Talent ID programme and her sporting success continued to flourish.

An all round high achiever across her studies and sport it is no surprise that Shauna has excelled in triathlon, her success coming on the back of consistent commitment, dedication, drive and discipline in her quest to achieve her goals whether academic or in sport.

It hasn’t been an easy road for the young athlete who has her sights set on achieving significant success in sport in the coming years. In this episode Shauna shares some insight into her life, from the injuries and health battles she has faced and overcome to become the athlete she is today, to the sheer elation of crossing the finish line of a race and everything in between.

Photo Credit: Gordon Thomson/ Triathlon Ireland
Share this post
Share this post