Irish Olympian shares shocking example of social media abuse she is subjected to
The sprinter, who boasts 228,000 followers on Instagram, got candid on the dark side of her success
Famed Olympian athlete Sharlene Mawdsley has shared a glimpse into the shocking online hatred she receives via her social media channels.
The Tipperary native’s fame has significantly increased in the last year, specifically after her team took home a gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Championships in 2024.
The sprinter, who boasts 228,000 followers on Instagram, got candid on the dark side of her success as she shared a screenshot of messages which she received from a female follower online.
In the image shared online, the woman can be seen replying to a picture Sharlene uploaded on her Instagram stories saying, “So big headed” to which the athlete sarcastically replied with “Awh thanks.”
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Also shown in the screenshot was the follower once again replying to a mirror selfie that Sharlene posted, stating, “Who cares.”
The Olympian posted this rude conversation to her own Instagram stories with the caption, “Take a day off,” followed by a crying emoji.
In a second story upload hours later, Sharlene shared a further glimpse into her conversation with this follower, where she replied with “You’re watching my stories.” The woman lastly responded with “Just post your running that’s important.”
The 26-year-old University of Limerick graduate went on to thank supporters for their “lovely messages” following the screenshot she posted, stating, “Poor Moira has unfollowed me since and I guess she won’t be too concerned about what I post anymore.”
