141px Paul Hession |
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nationality | Irish | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Galway, Ireland |
27 January 1983 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Running | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 100 metres, 200 metres | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Athenry AC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Paul Hession (born 27 January 1983 in Athenry, Galway) is an Irish international track and field athlete who specialises in the sprinting events, particularly the 200 metres. He has won silver and bronze medals at the World University Games, a silver medallist in the 200 m in the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final and in 2007 made the leap into world class by setting 4 Irish national records at 100 metres and 200 metres. He has been dubbed "The Fastest Man in Ireland" and "The Fastest White Man in the World". He is a member of Athenry Athletics Club.[1] He is the cousin of The Saturdays singer Una Healy.
After competing in the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2002, Hession made his major championship debut for Ireland the same year, at the 2002 European Championships where he finished 7th in his heat in a time of 21.28. The following year Hession missed the World Championships but was rewarded with silver medal in the 200 m at the World University Games. Two years later Hession won bronze in the 2005 edition. He followed this up with a disappointing run in his first World Athletics Championship. In the 2006 European Championships Hession ran poorly in the semi final and with a time of 20.80 was eliminated.
In 2007, Hession broke his first Irish national record by running the 100 m in 10.28 in Kalamata. Only three weeks later he lowered the record to 10.18 in Vaasa. When Hession stepped up to his preferred distance of 200 m he again broke the Irish record twice. First running 20.44 in the Sheffield Grand prix, and then 20.30 in the Irish national championships in Dublin.
Hession competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He trained in Japan in the build-up. On 18 August he won his 200 m quarter final to qualify for the semi-final in a time of 20.32, just after Usain Bolt had a time of 20.29.[2] In the semi-final he finished fifth in a time of 20.38 however he missed out on a place in the final as only the top four qualified.[3]
Hession had another very good season on the 2008 Grand Prix circuit, this time claiming second place in the 200 m at the World Athletics Final.[4] On 15 November 2008 Paul was awarded the highly prestigious Athlete of the Year at the annual Athletics Association of Ireland awards dinner.[5]
In the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. Hession made history as the first Irishman to qualify for the finals of the 200 metres in the European Athletics Championships. Hession ran 20.71 seconds, finishing 6th in the final.[6]
Its about time, I cant wait any longer
Got a winter-long thirst for where the sun is stronger
I got nothin to do
Well talk about the days of old
And well sit around and drink beer thats cold
We both know theres nothin better to do
No more workin all day, nothin making us stay
Except its better here now than it was yesterday
Its alright as long as you dont mind a good time on a Friday night and its
Robert Keen, hes floatin on a breeze through the cedar trees
And its all I need to set me free
Sittin in the back of this pickup truck
I know Ive no shortage of luck
On this Texas summer day
Drivin through the river well it soothes my soul
Sippin iced tea and I feel at home
Content to know no other way
Got ol Lyle on the stereo, got an endless dirt road