Tina Renulds – Team GB
Belfast born Tina Renulds looks forward to competing in her first ever Olympic games. Competing in the Shot Put event for Team GB, Ms Renulds admits Olympic glory was never a childhood dream for her, but she plans to seize the opportunity now that it has unexpectedly arrived.
Ms Renulds (21) laughs as she recalls her teenage years in Belfast and how she seemingly stumbled into competitive sport.
“Well, I was never really sporty or nothing. I hated P.E. with a passion. I was always the kid that ‘accidentally’ forgot my kit, so sports were not a hobby of mine like. I didn’t even have a clue what the Shot Put was so I didn’t”.
However, the Olympian, who hails from Glenbryn in North Belfast did have a passion for an unusual hobby, and this is what sparked her love of Shot Put.
“Recreational rioting was my love. I spent nights and nights, weeks and weeks at it. Mostly over the summer when my Ma would let me stay out later than usual. At the time it was very male dominated. ‘The Girls’ were meant to just watch, but I always wanted to be in the thick of the action. My da was winding me up saying, ‘You’re good at bricking them peelers, you should try the Shot Put.’ It all started from there.”
Ms Renulds, whose event will begin next week, believes recreational rioting can really bring people together for good. She hopes to inspire a new generation.
“I feel like young girls will look up to me and think that they can get a free trip to Paris one day too. I had a natural talent for hitting Police land rovers from a safe distance, and I want to show other working class girls that they can do that too. With practice, practice, practice.”
Rioting in Belfast has been a beloved pastime for many Belfast children for 50 or 60 years. However, with the results of the peace process, the opportunities for rioting are being reduced in every part of Northern Ireland.
“The funding’s just not there at the minute for recreational rioting. The cuts and austerity have made it really difficult to find competitive training facilities” she continued “Hopefully I can use my new found profile to lobby our politicians. Make recreational rioting a priority now!”
“It gets kids out of the house, it’s excellent exercise and also very sociable if you can put your mates money together and get a 3 litre bottle of cider. With the mental health crisis in kids right now, it’s more important than ever to open up these opportunities so it is”.
The Shot Put is a competitive field and Ms Renulds feels she has an outside chance of a medal. Asked if she has any rituals, inspirations or advice that help her reach peak performance, she smiled.
“Them wee people who measure how far you throw it. Picture them in a Peeler [Police] uniform, and you’ll do alright. It works for me” she laughed.
James McDaid – Team Ireland
James ‘Jimmy’ McDaid was also a late starter to his event. Competing for Team Ireland in the 800m, McDaid, also highlights his Belfast background as the foundation of his success.
The New Lodge native admits he had a turbulent relationship with authorities in his youth, but has nothing but gratitude for the tough love he received at the time.
“Well aye, I think my youth knocking about the New Lodge really made me the athlete I am today. If we weren’t stealing cars, we were robbing houses” he chuckled.
“You’re either spending your night running from the peelers [Police Service of Northern Ireland] or the ‘Ra [Irish Republican Army]. So it got me fit anyway” as he roared with laughter.
“My Ma always said that my smart mouth would get me into trouble one day, but it actually saved my bacon and kick started my Olympic journey.”
“So there I was, I’d stolen an old [Ford] Escort and was tearing about the place, as you do. I crashed this thing straight into those random f**king gate post things at the top of the [New Lodge] Road.” he explained “I climb out, stumbling like f**k and a ‘Ra b*stard [I.R.A. man] grabs me by the scruff. Drags me down the back of McLoughins [Licensed premises in the New Lodge]”.
“I feel the gun pointed at the back of my knee and he says to me, ‘You’ll probably find it hard to drive for a while kid’. He was f**king laughing. So there’s me, sh*tting myself. I begged him ‘No, no you can’t. Not today, please mate. I’ve a running event, I’m trying to make the Irish Olympics team.” he continued “The big lad had a real confused look on his face. Didn’t know whether to believe me or not. He says if he finds out I’m lying it’ll be a bullet in the head, not the leg.” Prompting another fit of McDaid’s infectious laughter.
Worried about the potential consequences of his lie, the following day McDaid entered into his local 5-K race and won convincingly. Ulster and Irish titles at 800m quickly followed. Before he qualified for the Irish Olympic Team earlier this year.
McDaid believes that he is now a Law Abiding Citizen for life.
“Running is my life now. This time its all legal” he finished, smiling.
The Bellfawst Noos 
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