My cousin, the runner

When I was a kid, my mother would periodically bemoan her offspring’s lack of serious sporting talent. We were all pretty sporty, but none of us had professional-level talent. This was usually preceded by her reading aloud from the newspaper about so and so sports person making X million quid for kicking a ball/whacking a golf ball/wielding a tennis racket, etc. What she didn't realise was that there was sporting talent in our genes. Or more specifically, her genes. My mother’s side of the family has produced two great sports men. My cousin, Damien Reale, plays hurling for Limerick, and another cousin, Liam Reale, is a professional runner. Yesterday, at the tender age of 22, he came 8th in the final of the 1,500 meters at the European Championships in Sweden. This was his first major championship race - and what a phenomenal achievement. Liam is 15 years younger than me so we don't really know each other. He was only eight when I moved to the U.S., and anyhow, I had left Limerick years before. We met at my sisters' wedding in 2003, and we talked about his future plans. He was just finishing up college and was debating if a full time athletic career was worth the dedication and effort. I haven't seen him since, but it looks like he made the right decision. Well done Liam!