City of Derry's record-breaking Gemma Thompson wins double bronze!

Gemma Thompson is straight back to normality this week, just days after an incredible performance at the European Masters Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland.

The City of Derry Spartan won two bronze medals, in the 60m and 200m events respectively as well as finishing in fourth place with the Irish relay team (W35). As if that was not impressive enough, Gemma also smashed the Irish 60m record which had stood since 2017, making her a double bronze medal-winning, Irish record holder in her own right.

Head of P.E at St. Cecilia’s College, Gemma has gone straight back to school this week following those heroics, and she admits her achievements have not yet sunk in.

“Do you know what? To be honest, it actually hasn't just yet, because when you're away, you're in a bubble,” she laughed. “I just don't feel like I've had time to really sit down and reflect, because when I was away, it was very intense.

“I went on the Sunday, I had a rest day on the Monday, and then I literally competed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then on the Saturday, after my relay, I had to leave straight away to go get my flight. I really don't think it has properly sunk in just yet.”

Being away from home in such an intense environment is demanding for any athlete, and that’s even before the competition starts. It meant a week of focus and self-motivation for Gemma amongst some of the best athletes in the world.

“The way I am, not that I cut myself off, because I'll be speaking to my husband, but you're so focused,” she explained. “On the Tuesday, it was the race, and do you want to get to the final? The final was on Wednesday, and then Thursday, you're moving on to your next event, the 200, and then the final was on Friday, and then you had the relay.

“For me, whenever I go away to these competitions, it's just getting myself in there with a routine. And, it's funny, because you're over there at a big race, but I didn't really get to see much athletics. The way the time table worked it was, you were on at night, so during the day, you were getting your physio, you were resting, you were making sure you were hydrated, you were eating right and so on.

“It's a strange one when you go away, because people think, oh, this is great, you're just away, you can do whatever, but the most important thing for me is getting myself into a routine.”

No matter the event, the occasion or location, Gemma knows that her biggest fans are there waiting for her at home.

Gemma, on the inside lane, takes off.

“I have a seven-year-old and then my husband, so I'm really lucky that they're very supportive,” she continued. “I suppose the best thing was that Derry City weren’t playing at home last Friday night, so I got away with that!

“My husband is brilliant, and I'm very lucky, because my parents would step in as well, too, and my in-laws as well to watch my son if I'm away competing or pick him up from school and stuff, so I have to say I'm very, very blessed in that sense. I've got great support.”

Belief

Heading out to Poland, Gemma always believed that she could return home with a medal. But feeling something and going on to achieve it are two very different things entirely.

“To be honest, I knew that I was capable, and I knew that there could be a medal up for grabs,” she explained.

“Whenever you see the entry list and you see their times, you're thinking maybe this is possible. I think my whole goal at the start of the year was I wanted to get the Irish record, and it was the same last year. You know yourself, when you focus too much on something, it doesn't happen, so I just thought to myself that the goal would be just to go and get to the final.

“I was lucky enough in the heat because I had a false start, which made me panic, and I was thinking, “oh, if I false start again, I'm out”, so I had to be careful, but I broke the record in the semi-final. I didn't think about it, I just thought “just get to the end, get to finishing, and try and get into this final”, so it was a bonus there that when I got to the final, I had the record already.”

The biggest battle can sometimes be within, with self-doubt a factor that every athlete has dealt with throughout their careers. But getting that record so early in the week helped motivate Gema even more to be successful.

“It definitely gave me a confidence boost, but I knew going in,” she said. “I was ranked third, but I was 8.01 and the Spanish girl was 8.02. I knew the French girl and the English girl and I was a lot closer to them this time than what I've been in the past, so again, that gave me a bit of a boost. But the main person I was thinking of was the Spanish girl, because I knew that my start would have to be good.

Gemma celebrates after winning bronze.

“If I got a good start then I knew there was potential there for a medal, and thank God I was lucky enough that I probably had the best start of my life. I get so nervous, and I was really wound up that day and trying to stay calm. I think once I got onto the warm-up area, once I got the warm-up done, and stood at the start line, I just felt I was able to zone everything out and just kind of go for it.”

Overcoming

With one medal and a new Irish record to her name, it would have been easy for Gemma to check out and be content with her achievements, but there was still one more race to aim for, and it was important to face that head on.

“With the 200, we have a love-hate relationship, because I had a really bad fall last year at the Scottish Indoors,” she explained. “Since then, I've nearly had a mental block, and I get so nervous when it comes to the 200. The thing was, I was thinking that no matter what, I was going home with a medal, so I just said to myself, “go out, run this 200, again, if I get to the final, brilliant, if I get a PB, even better”, and I think because I was so relaxed, and didn't put the pressure on myself, that I actually loved the 200. I had a great run, and got a PB, and the semi-final won it, and then that was me into the final.”

At the end of arguably the most memorable week of her career, Gemma is delighted that she was able to stand out on her on to show what she can do as an individual athlete at the highest level.

“I'm delighted,” she beamed.

“I've won relay medals in the past, and don't get me wrong, it's great to win a European relay medal, but just to get that individual, it's just that much more special. To get the bronze in the both of them - my main goal, if I'm honest with you, was the 60 metres- that's the one that I just would love to have got the medal, and then I did, so getting it in the 200, and again, running a PB, everything just must have clicked for me. It just seemed to go well, somebody was on my side, watching over me.”

Gemma has been straight back into life as a wife, a mother and a teacher this week, and her schedule has been so hectic that she admits she might need the Easter break before she can reflect on her achievements properly.

Gemma on the podium at the end of a memorable week.

“When you are away, you are just in this bubble, and you're focused on this, and then you come back, and you're back to mummy mode, you're back to teacher mode, and everything else. I think now, when I get off for Easter, and I kind of sit back and think about it, I'll just be thinking, “oh my God, look what I've done, and what I've achieved”.

“I am very proud of myself, especially being a mum, and working full-time, and training full-time, so no, definitely, I'm definitely proud of myself.

"I love setting challenges for myself, and setting goals, and obviously I've reached them now, so you do come back, and you think, “right, what's next?”