The record-breaking sprinter also reflected on her experience of this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke was a guest on RTÉ’s Late Late Show last night and opened up about her meeting with Rihanna which went viral on social media last week.
The Dubliner has had a rollercoaster 2024 which saw her break her own personal best and compete at the Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old failed to secure a medal at the Paris Games after agonisingly finishing fourth in both the 400m individual final and 4x400m Women’s final.
Regardless of that disappointment, she became something of a national hero for her performances and humble interviews after each race.
The Tallaght native hit headlines again last week when she bumped into pop superstar Rihanna at a Savage x Fenty event in London, and it appeared as though the Umbrella singer was more starstruck than Adeleke was.
Last night, Adeleke told host Patrick Kielty the story behind her magic moment with Ri-Ri.
“I knew that she followed me on Instagram two years ago, after the World Championships in 2022,” she said. “I think she must have seen me somewhere and found me and followed me. I was like, ‘Oh! Rihanna – that’s so random!’ and I was like, ‘Should I follow her back? Should I not follow her back? Ah, I’ll follow back, go on!’
“After that, her team started reaching out to me – sending me products, sending me good luck notes to my races and stuff – but I thought it was just maybe like her team, like she didn’t really actually know who I was.”
She continued: “Then, I got the invite to the event, and I was actually able to go this time because it wasn’t during the season and stuff – that was in London two weeks ago.
“When she saw me, she couldn’t believe that I was there. And I didn’t realise that she would actually know who I was! Just because someone follows you on Instagram, doesn’t mean they actually know who you are. She was like, ‘Oh my God – it’s you! I can’t believe it’s you! You’re here!’ And I was like, ‘Ehhh…’ (Laughs) I’m like, ‘I can’t believe it’s you!’
“It was such a crazy moment for her to recognise me and just be actually following my journey. She actually knew who I was and was following what I do. It was surreal.”
Two absolute ICONS! #latelate pic.twitter.com/V0Rso9BmFM
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) September 27, 2024
As for the next step in her athletics career, the 22-year-old told Kielty that she will be back to training “lightly” on Monday as she counts down to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next September.
“And then you’re coming back on the Late Late at the end of September with the gold medal from the Worlds,” predicted Kielty.
“Yeah!” she replied as they shook on it.
