Double medal success for Clonliffe star in South Korea

A NORTHSIDE athlete was celebrating last week after winning two silver medals at the World Masters Athletics Championship Indoor in Daegu, South Korea.

Snezana Bechtina, originally from Vilnius, Lithuania, and now living in Clare Village, Malahide Road, won silver in the 200m (25.75) and 400m (56.09) events.

The 35-year-old, a member of Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club, based at Morton Stadium, Santry, has been living here since 2005 and qualified to compete for Ireland because of her residential status.

She told Northside People she was delighted with her success.

“I would like to say thank you to my club Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club for the support towards the WMAC (World Masters Athletics Championship),” said Snezana.

“I would like to say a special thanks to people who had an influence in our athletic achievement.

“Thank you to my coach John Shields who was awarded the Coach of the Year recently. Thank you for your help. Thank you Dave Donnegan, Palmira Zukiene, Irina Krakoviak, Juozas Garalevicius, Tom Coyle, Paddy Fay, Andrii Mahin, all from Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club and all my training group mates. All of you in some period of time made a huge impact on my decision regarding athletics.”

Snezana also thanked her family for their support. 

“Thank you to mother Liudmila, brother Valerij and his family, thank you to a special person Alex and daughter Karina (9), who always supported me,” she said. 

Following her success, Snezana was given two toys (Korean dogs) by the hosts. She gave them to Karina and her niece Valerija on her return to Ireland.

“These are the two girls who motivated me,” she said. “I got one toy for the 200m and one for the 400m.” 

Snezana’s success in South Korea brought her indoor season to a wonderful conclusion. She has been completely dominant on the indoor circuit in Ireland in 2017 having won the National 60m, 200m and 400m titles, the 60m and 400m being National Masters records. Now as a result of her superb running in Daegu she holds all three National Masters records.

As well as her athletics success, Snezana also won a Miss Fitness award at the Runway Achievers & Recognition Awards held at the Hilton Hotel Dublin Airport last month.