Three-time Olympian Thomas Barr went back to school this week with a visit to two primary schools in his native Waterford.
His first call was to St John Of God NS in Waterford, where he arrived with a bouquet of flowers for School Principal Brid Golden, his former coach and recently elected President of Athletics Ireland.
“It was lovely to be able to visit Brid and thank her for steering me in the right direction when she was my coach at Ferrybank Athletic Club,” Thomas Barr said. “I’m sure Brid will now make a big impact in her new role as President of Athletics Ireland.”
The children at the all-girls school showed great delight and energy when Thomas Barr led them on a run in the school yard to celebrate The Daily Mile – the 15 minutes a day Walk or Run programme promoted by Athletics Ireland.
“The Daily Mile is an initiative that I’d recommend to for all primary schools to sign up to,” Thomas Barr said.” The consistency of getting out to walk or run 15 minutes a day is a great way of building a strong endurance foundation.”
While still attending primary school in Dunmore East, Thomas Barr, together with his sister Jessie, convinced his parents that he’d like to try athletics. His parents took the siblings – both of whom would go on to become Olympians – down to Ferrybank A.C.
Barr, small for his age, was outperformed by peers at just about every event he tried in the years that followed, from cross-country to sprints, hurdles. “He was good, but not outstanding,” Brid Golden, who coached Barr up to age 18, said.
“In later years he started developing and having a little success, but he had quite a balanced lifestyle and didn’t pursue athletics to the detriment of other sports. He wasn’t too serious too young, which is good practice.”
True to his roots, Thomas Barr enjoys his visits to schools like St John Of God. He also paid a visit to his former school, Réalt na Mara NS in Dunmore East.
“It was a real treat and an inspiration for the children to have Thomas Barr visit, talk and run with them,” School Principal Ciara McSweeney said. “Thomas has never forgotten the school he attended as a young lad and he has a great inspirational message for children of all ages. The children loved to be able to run with him in The Daily Mile celebration and it was a very special day at the school for the teachers and the children.”
“Going back to my former school and sitting at a desk again in one of the classrooms prompted a lot of good memories for me,” Thomas Barr said.
“I was born and raised in Dunmore East, grew up there and went to college in Limerick. I’m just a normal person, and if I can do it, anybody can if they stick with it and have a good mentality. It’s important not to get sucked into and overwhelmed by the sport.”
“I’ve lived a normal life and studied while training, but still managed to get to Olympic level, where I got so close to winning a medal. No matter what happened on the track, I always believed that the sun was going to rise the next day and that I’d be on to new horizons.
“The biggest thing for any young athlete is to enjoy it. At the end of the day it’s sport, and sport is meant to be about fun and enjoyment.”
Recently retired from competition, Thomas is now looking forward to playing an inspirational role for young people all over the country.
“The two school visits I made in Waterford were a pure joy for me and it was lovely to see the reaction from the teachers and the children on my visits,” he said. “I’d like to do a lot more of this kind of engagement – talking and running with young people – encouraging them to follow their dreams in sport and in life.”
