Mandy Crowe
Sprinter
Executive Assistant
Artist: Russell James
Size: 152cm x 152cm
Medium: Black and white photography printed on fine art photographic rag paper
"It can be fun being the fastest kid in a small village. My parents encouraged us to be sporty – they set up a local athletics club for me to train when I was seven, and my brother became a top jockey. I moved to Australia to be coached by Peter Fortune, Cathy Freeman’s coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport. It was a steep learning curve for a 19-year-old. I trained in Melbourne, only returning to Ireland in summer to represent Ireland in competitions. I still train twice a day and live a clean life. I look forward to seeing what sports my daughter Maeve will pursue. Currently she is looking taller than my brother so becoming a jockey is probably not on the cards."