Thomas Barr (athlete)
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 Thomas Barr at 2022 European Championships | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 24 July 1992 Waterford, Ireland |
| Education | Sports Performance MSc |
| Alma mater | University of Limerick |
| Years active | 2011–2024 |
| Agent | David Scott (Stellar Athletics) |
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 69 kg (152 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Ireland |
| Sport | Track and field |
Event | 400 metres hurdles |
| University team | University of Limerick |
| Club | Ferrybank AC |
| Coached by | Hayley & Drew Harrison |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 400 m hurdles: 47.97 s 400 m (indoor): 46.97 s |
Medal record | |
Thomas Barr (born 24 July 1992) is a retired Irish track and field athlete who competed in the sprints and hurdles. He is probably best known for being a member of the winning European Championship Mixed 4x400 Relay team[1] and finishing 4th in the 400m Hurdles at the 2016 Olympics. Barr announced his retirement in January 2025.
In 2014, Barr was a semi-finalist at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in the 400 meter hurdles.[2] In 2015, he finished 3rd at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix as part of the 2015 IAAF Diamond League.[3]
Barr won gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the 2015 World University Games (Summer Universiade) in Gwangju, South Korea with a time of 48.78 seconds.
On 15 August at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Barr finished second in his heat of the 400m hurdles in a season best time of 48.93.[4] The following day he broke the Irish record and won his semi-final to qualify for the final in a time of 48.39.[5] He finished fourth in the final, again breaking the Irish record with a time of 47.97.[6][7]
In August 2017, Barr was forced to withdraw from the 400m hurdles semi-final heats at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics after a bout of gastroenteritis.[8]
On 9 August 2018, Barr won bronze in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 European Athletics Championships with a season best time of 48.31, his second fastest time ever.[9][10][11]
In June 2024, Barr won gold at the European Championships, running the third leg of the 4x400 mixed relay, passing the baton on to Sharlene Mawdsley in second place with a 44.90 split.[1] Mawdsley ran down the leading Belgian Helena Ponette in the home strait, crossing the line in the gold medal position in an Irish record time of 3:09.92.[1] Barr had been passed the baton by Rhasidat Adeleke in 1st place.[1] Christopher O'Donnell ran the opening leg for Ireland.
Achievements
International championships
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Ireland | |||||
| 2011 | European Junior Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 8th | 400 m hurdles | 51.02 |
| 2012 | European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 5th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 50.22 |
| 2013 | European U23 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 8th | 400 m hurdles | 50.14 |
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 3rd (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 49.30 |
| 4th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.67 | |||
| 2015 | World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 6th (h) | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:07.11 |
| Summer Universiade | Gwangju, South Korea | 1st | 400 m hurdles | 48.78 | |
| World Championships | Beijing, China | 11th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 48.71 | |
| 13th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.26 | |||
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 5th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 50.09 |
| 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.32 | |||
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 4th | 400 m hurdles | 47.97 NR | |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 18th (h)1 | 400 m hurdles | 49.79 |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 3rd | 400 m hurdles | 48.31 |
| 5th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:06.55 | |||
| 2019 | European Indoor Championships | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 4th (h) | 400 m sh | 48.22 |
| World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 11th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 49.02 | |
| 2021 | World Relays | Chorzów, Poland | 4th (h)2 | 4 x 400 m relay mixed | 3:16.84 NR |
| Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 9th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 48.26 | |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 19th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 50.08 |
| European Championships | Munich, Germany | 4th (h) | 400 m hurdles | 49.30 | |
| 2024 | World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 3rd | 4 x 400 m relay mixed | 3:11.53 NR |
| European Championships | Rome, Italy | 1st | 4 x 400 m relay mixed | 3:09.92 CR, NR | |
| 16th (sf) | 400 m hurdles | 49.61 | |||
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 10th (h) | 4 x 400 m relay mixed | 3:12.67 | |
1 Result from the heats, Barr did not start in the semi-finals.
2 Result from the heats, Barr did not start in the final.
Awards
In April 2015, Barr was named the European Athlete of the Month for, in part, being part of a national relay record and having a world-best time in the 400 metre hurdles.[12]
Barr was named as the 2016 Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics Awards on 30 November 2016.[13]
Records
Barr holds the Irish national record in the 400 metre hurdles.[14] In 2014 he was also part of the relay team that set the Irish national record in the 4 × 400 metres relay.[15]
