It was a long commute to university which led to Kelly Murphy taking up cycling. The decision to ditch the train and hop on a bike may lead her to this summer's Olympic Games.
Murphy, born in London to Irish parents Ger and Ellen Murphy, has been a member of the Irish team for six years. Two weeks after finishing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, Murphy received a call from the Irish federation. She had taken up cycling relatively late in life at 28.
"Racing was never really anything that entered my consciousness at the time," she says.
"I was only averagely sporty as a kid so going to the Olympic Games was never something that was on my radar.
"I had done a handful of local races and I think I met the right people at the right time and one day I got a call from the Irish federation asking if this was something I wanted to do.
"I know a good deal when I see one and, you're a long time dead, so I thought 'Why not?' I am living the dream."
13 August 2022; Kelly Murphy of Ireland after finishing 6th in the Women's Individual Pursuit Qualifying during day 3 of the European Tracking Cycling Championships 2022 at Messe Munchen in Munich, Germany. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
With her PhD done, Murphy feels she can "go at cycling full gas" without having to worry about her education. Returning to a career in science is something she would like to pursue in the future.
Earlier this month, she was part of the Irish group, along with Erin Creighton, Lara Gillespie, Alice Sharpe and Mia Griffin, which finished fourth in the team pursuit event at the European track championships.
During the competition, Murphy suffered just her second ever crash on the track during a race against Switzerland. The Swiss were subsequently disqualified for dangerous riding.
"I'm the rider up at the fence that gets run over twice!" she says.
"I'm OK. I came away quite luckily. I've only got grazes to show for it. It could have been a lot worse. We've been at this for a long time and crashing on the road is fairly common. You get quite good at it!
"We are moving as fast as cars on public highways, that is how fast we are moving, but we have only a thin layer of Lycra to protect us from the wooden floor. No brakes. The no brakes thing is not as dangerous as it sounds actually."
Ireland has never qualified for the Olympics in the team pursuit. The women's team are currently tenth in the rankings two thirds through the qualification process with the top 10 earning a place in Paris. There are three more Nations Cup events remaining in qualification.
12 August 2022; The Ireland team consisting of Mia Griffin, Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy and Lara Gillespie compete in the Women's Team Pursuit during day 2 of the European Track Cycling Championships 2022 at Messe Munchen in Munich, Germany. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
"Team pursuit, if you've ever seen it, in theory it's just riding around in a straight line. Nobody has ever had to work so hard at it as I have!" says Murphy.
"There's a lot of skill involved in riding in a straight line. All of my teammates are fantastic riders. I strive to be like them every day I get on the bike.
"My own training justifies my spot on the team. I train mostly to keep up with them. I don't mind that challenge.
"For me, personally, getting to the Olympics, that will be a dream come true. I very much see myself as someone who is not very talented, it is something that I would have to have earned. It’s very exciting.
"For the team, in general, this programme has existed in various shapes for some years and we’ve never been able to qualify at team pursuit for the Olympics - male or female.
"We’ve been plucking away together as a unit for some time. So, for all of us to reach our destination, that would be the dream come true."
