"Lucy Mulhall's Decade-Long Journey to the Paris Olympics: A Tale of Rugby, Family, and Bee Tattoos"
Lucy Mulhall's remarkable journey with the Ireland Women's Sevens rugby team has led her to a secure place at the Paris Olympics. Her dedication, spanning a decade, has not only brought Olympic qualification but has also elevated the profile of Women's Sevens rugby in Ireland.
Born and raised on a family farm in Crossbridge, Tinahely, Wicklow, Lucy Mulhall hails from a sports-loving family where the Olympics always held a special place. Achieving qualification for the Paris Olympics last May marked a significant milestone for her and Women's Sevens rugby in Ireland. Previous attempts to make it to Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 had ended in near misses.
Mulhall reflects on her journey, saying, "There are still days when I wake up and think, 'Wow, we actually did it.' It still feels surreal and incredibly exciting."
However, she remains grounded and focused on the path ahead. With nine seasons as Ireland's captain, her journey continues as the World Rugby Sevens series approaches, leading potentially to a final in Madrid in early June.
Despite the upcoming Olympics, she also eagerly anticipates her wedding day on December 21st to fiancé Michael Rock, a date chosen to ensure her presence in the country.
The journey to the Paris Olympics truly came into focus after a decisive 10-5 victory over Fiji at the Toulouse Tournament last May, securing the fourth and final automatic Olympic qualification spot. A month later, the Ireland Men's Sevens team achieved a similar feat, repeating their success from Tokyo.
Mulhall remarks, "It has sunk in now to the point that it has been excellent preparation throughout the pre-season. There is a lot of planning around trips, family booking tickets, and all the logistics. We didn't expect to have this much time before the Olympics. The last time, for Tokyo, we had only a month to prepare. So, we feel incredibly fortunate to be going to the Olympics to compete, not just qualify."
Interestingly, many of the tickets to Paris were already secured before qualification. Mulhall's family, including her fiancée and parents, had booked their tickets two months earlier, displaying unwavering faith in her and the team's abilities. Even her local GAA club and ladies' team in Tinahely made plans to be there, booking flights, accommodations, and tickets.
At the age of 30, Lucy Mulhall acknowledges that the Sevens code remains relatively unknown to many. She aspires to change this with their Olympic qualification.
Drawing inspiration from iconic Irish athletes like Sonia O'Sullivan and Katie Taylor, Mulhall hopes to make Women's Sevens rugby as recognizable and impactful as these legends did for their respective sports.
Throughout the last decade, her passion for the game has never wavered. She emphasizes the sport's fast-paced nature and the profound sense of accountability, where teamwork is pivotal. Mulhall envisions a future where Sevens rugby becomes more widespread and accessible throughout Ireland.
While Mulhall is under contract with the IRFU, she also works with Triton Lake as part of her plan for the future. She values the mental balance and lifestyle it provides, regardless of financial considerations. With extensive travel on the horizon for the next six months, maintaining that balance is essential.
As they prepare for the Olympics, their base will be in Tours, the same location as the men's Ireland team for their recent World Cup. A bee tattoo serves as a daily reminder of their journey and unity. The team's motto for Toulouse, "be present, be buzzing, and be together," has become a symbol of their shared endeavor.
Mulhall explains, "We are all just part of one hive, all bees in one hive. Our mantra for Toulouse was 'be present, be buzzing, and be together.' Once we qualified, we promised that we'd get bee tattoos. Myself, Stacey Flood, and Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, who are also my bridesmaids, got the tattoos during my hen party. They serve as a reminder that we did it."
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