Fionnuala McCormack OLY - A Testimonial

I first met Enda sixteen years ago in my leaving cert year. At the time I was unsure about leaving my coach, club, and family and heading off to America to college.  DCU's Athletics scholarship concept was a unique and appealing alternative.  Enda assured me that I could be coached by my club coach and still be part of the DCU athletics club.  Enda never encroached on my coaching set up but always included me in training.  During my years in DCU Enda always went far and above his role and was always available to help with sessions, travel to national and international competitions and offer much needed advice and insight on racing, training and life.

In 2003 Enda recruited me to DCU with a vision for what DCU Athletics could become.  I was delighted to be a part of Enda's vision in making DCU the premier athletics university in the country.  During my time in DCU I competed in my first European Championships on the track, I won a silver medal at the U23 European Cross Country Championships and I qualified for my first Olympic Games.  I believe the vision, guidance, encouragement and understanding of Enda and the DCU Athletics Academy were invaluable in helping me take those first important steps in my senior international career. In the ten years since graduating I have enjoyed watching DCU Athletics Academy continue to grow from strength to strength under Enda's guidance.  I feel privileged to count Enda as a close friend, still in my corner sixteen years, three Olympics, three European medals and numerous ups and downs after I first became part of the history and family of Enda's DCU Athletics Academy.

Enda's job title of Athletics Academy Director fails to fully encompass the role he perfected of being coach, go-between, confidante, advisor, fundraiser, event organiser, friend, mentor and role model to so many student athletes in DCU.  Enda has done the job so well over the last decade and a half that it's fair to say he is both invaluable and irreplaceable.

Yours sincerely,

Fionnuala McCormack.