Sport Is Great Entertainment, It's Amazing ...But It Isn't People's Lives

Derval, 38, reveals her new hurdles and priorities

- Mike O'loughlin

Derval O’Rourke has admitted juggling family and work life is challenge – and it’s definitely harder while in lockdown.

The mother of two, who is at home in Cork, says being in the house with her kids is a full-time job in itself.

She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I love my network of mothers that I meet up with all the time – it’s been a huge form of support since I became a parent almost five years ago.

“It has been tough for me but [the kids] are living their best lives in lockdown because of the ages they are.

“They’re surrounded by their two parents who never leave the house and they play with us all of time.

“I have five and 10-minute pilates classes on my site and my four-year-old now does them with me.

HEALTHY

“And our one-year-old has started doing ‘up dog, down dog’ and we don’t know if it’s because he has been watching me and his sister, or if he is a secret pilates guru.

“They are healthy and happy but Peter and I have to remind ourselves to take the pressure off because it is such an unusual time and we can’t expect too much of ourselves.”

Derval, 38, is also philosophical about Olympic athletes after the international event was cancelled this year in Tokyo.

The former sprint hurdler said: “They are no different to the rest of us – we were all planning for different things this year.

“The good athletes will adapt very quickly and they will control what they can control and they will come out and do well next year.