Longford athlete shines in New Zealand

Abbeylara native Fiona Gallagher enjoyed incredible success recently as she was victorious in her age group and came away as 2nd female overall at the Ironman New Zealand.

Fiona, who moved to New Zealand five years ago, explained, “The race itself was in Taupo in the North Island (I live in Queenstown in the South Island). It was the first 'normal' race since Covid for us, with people allowed to travel from overseas.”

The event on December 10 featured a 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2 km run and some very Irish weather, with rain, wind, thunder and lightning. Fiona’s primary goal was to complete the event in under ten hours.

She added, “When the wind picked up on the bike I thought maybe it wasn't the day for that, but I had a great run and was very happy to get in under 10. I was lucky enough to come 2nd overall in the female race, and won my age group, 25-29.”

The overall winner was Vanessa Murray, a current age group world champion, and Fiona said she was ‘pretty happy to come second behind an athlete of such high calibre and someone I really look up to for everything she has achieved as an amateur in the sport’.

Fiona, who trains 20-22 hours a week, attended Aughnagarron NS and Cnoc Mhuire, Granard before she went on to study law and Irish at Maynooth University. She was home in August for five weeks and said it was lovely to be able to reconnect with family and friends.
She said Christmas in New Zealand is pretty quiet. “It's a funny time of year here where it never feels like Christmas, even if this will be my fourth here.”

Daughter of Martin and the late Mary Gallagher, Fiona is no stranger to sporting success. In 2020 she was crowned as the Asia Pacific female AquaBike amateur champion and in 2021 she finished first in her age group and was the 4th amateur female overall at the Ironman New Zealand.

And what are her plans for 2023? “I have been invited to race in my first professional race in Tauranga in the North Island in January. I plan on racing Ironman New Zealand again in March. Depending on how that goes, I may be in a position to race in the Ironman World Championships in Kailui, Kona, Hawaii. I turned down my slot for that after my most recent win, but I’m hoping if I have another good performance in March, I'll have the confidence to back myself then.”
Here’s wishing Fiona continued success.