Ireland's new sprint star Israel Olatunde is weighing up his options having had offers to move the US and elsewhere to continue his career.
Olatunde, 20, chose not to take the path chosen by Rhasidat Adeleke who, after her Leaving Cert, moved to the University of Texas to pursue her sprint dreams.
That decision has worked out well for Adeleke, who enjoyed a very successful first year in the States, becoming the first Irish woman to win an NCAA title in a sprint event.
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And, like Olatunde, she blazed a trail in this summer's European Championships in Munich.
Olatunde finished sixth in the men's 100m final - setting a new Irish record of 10.17 seconds - while Adeleke broke her own Irish record in the 400m final, finishing in fifth place.
Prior to all that, Olatunde felt the best course of action was to accept a place in UCD as an Ad Astra scholar. He will finish a computer science with data science degree in May.
After that it will be decision time, with his family and his coach Daniel Kilgallon involved in the planning.
"Yeah, there definitely have been some approaches," said the Dundalk speedster.
"But at the moment I’m trying to work on my opportunities, see what’s best going forward.
"I'm definitely going to finish my degree here, I'm in my final year now.
"So I'll be finishing up in May and it would definitely be after that if I was to make that move.
"I’m still discussing with Daniel and my family what the good options are going forward, so I’ve a few options. I’m keeping things open - not just the States.
"I think it just depends where you actually go, the coaches and the set up you’re in.
"I probably could have found the right spot, but I think I found the right spot for me in Ireland, in UCD, and with Dan.
"I can’t ask for much better, I have everything I need, as well as I did in first year.
"Now I would be in a better position (to go away) - but I’m still trying to see if that’s the right decision for me or not."
Olatunde has yet to see a material advantage to his Munich breakthrough. He remains on Athletics Ireland's development funding.
However that is changed up every winter - so while he is not on Sport Ireland's Carding Scheme he is still expected to receive an increase in the coming months.
His situation has also tangibly improved at UCD for his final year as he has moved into on campus accommodation, which he shares with two hockey players and a soccer player.
"It's a good mix," Olatunde smiled. "The cooking is going good but my mom still babies me, sends me care packages every week.
"So I don’t have to do too much, she takes good care of me.
"It’s definitely a bit of a different routine, being able to go to the class or to the gym, it’s been handy, a great help. It’s been pretty beneficial so far in terms of my recovery and getting time to study.
"I’m getting a lot more sleep. I don’t have to be up at 5am in the morning anymore (to travel). It’s a lot more free time.
"I was commuting maybe four hours, sometimes more, a day, so to have that much more free time.
"It’s not really free time, I try to use it wisely as I can. It’s being able to recover a bit better for training, more time to focus for school, being able to spend time with my friends."
Olatunde does his S&C and gym work in UCD and still goes to Tallaght to work with Kilgallon.
As for the brand new running track at Belfield, he enjoyed a run out on it for the grand opening but won't set foot on it again for a while as he works through his winter programme on grass, in the rain and mud of the season.
"I must be a bit of a sadist or something, I enjoy those kinds of sessions," he laughed. "This is when champions are made."
His competitive season begins in January and Olatunde explained: "I’m kind of going at it with the same approach I went at the Europeans in Munich – just not looking at places or times.
"I’m just going to produce my best and hopefully that will lead to everything I’m proud of, so over the next few months. I’m working on getting the best shape I can.
"There’s so much to improve on so I just have to focus on the little things and I think when championships come I just want to produce my best and see what comes.
"I was already pretty confident going into Munich but to actually have evidence that I can belong on a stage like this, it kind of inspires me that I do have a future at the top level of this sport and that I can keep going."
SPAR has teamed up with the fastest Irish man in history, Israel Olatunde, and TikTok star Cian Mooney and is calling on college students across Ireland to record a TikTok video in their local SPAR in under 10.17 seconds and share it to Cian Mooney's TikTok channel to be in with a chance of winning. To find out more visit: www.spar.ie.
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