Defying gravity: A UL student’s journey through sport and aerodynamics

From Fermoy, Cork, to the world of aeronautics and competitive sports, Mary O’Donnell's journey has been anything but conventional.

As she graduated from University of Limerick last week with a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering, Mary reflected on the transformative years that shaped her into the resilient and ambitious woman she is today.

Growing up as a twin, Mary was always the logical and sporty one, in contrast to her twin sister's musical and artistic flair. Yet her path was far from easy.

"Secondary school was a tough time for me. I was bullied and went through an eating disorder and I really didn’t enjoy the outlook that I had in life. But when I came to UL, everything just clicked. I found my place, my passion, and my people. I could be who I really wanted to be.”

Mary’s journey into the world of aeronautics began in her fifth year of secondary school with a scholarship to the United Space School in Houston, Texas.

“I went over and of course I wanted to become an astronaut. Who doesn't want to become an astronaut if they're based in the Johnson Space Centre, getting to see all the rockets, the command centre and the control centre?”

Inspired by Ireland’s first astronaut, Norah Patten, who also studied aeronautical engineering at UL, Mary chose to follow her footsteps, drawn not only by UL’s academic reputation but also by its world-class sports facilities.

"I was a competitive swimmer at the time, and UL’s sports facilities, especially the National Centre swimming pool just made perfect sense."

Her time at UL saw her interests evolve, and her experiences during co-op allowed Mary to explore her curiosity and passions even further.

"I started college wanting to become an astronaut, but during my co-op at Boeing, I got really interested in the aviation industry, particularly the hands-on factory work. I found that sitting down and working in front of a computer didn’t suit me. I really enjoyed being on the factory floor."

However, it was her newfound passion for triathlon that truly merged her love for sports with her engineering skills.

"Triathlon has a huge emphasis on aerodynamics which is what I was learning about. I knew all about coefficient drag and streamlining things, and I was able to relate this to sports and triathlon training. It was then I realised I could combine my interests. My master's thesis was based on aerodynamic bike fitting.”

Mary’s time at UL wasn’t just about academic and sports growth. She also thrived on outreach activities and getting involved in clubs and societies, from being an engineer on the Sofia physics project to leading the astronomy society to becoming president of the swimming club.

“I was heavily involved in the Sofia physics project, an outreach initiative to help kids get into physics and STEM. That was so rewarding to go out as the engineer. I was the adult in the situation, telling kids, ‘This is what you can do with physics, this is what you can do with applied maths, this is what you do with aeronautical engineering.’ That was a phenomenal experience that UL offered us.”

“The clubs and societies that I’ve been involved in and being on the student executive, all of those were experiences that I'm so grateful to UL for.”

Mary feels strongly about being a role model for females in both STEM and sports.

“I've definitely found that women in STEM and women in sports are very much the same kind of beast to tackle. We need women who are already in the field of both STEM and sports to go and talk to girls in primary and secondary school, to show them, ‘We are doing it and it can be done, you can do it too. We are your role models, don’t be afraid, you belong here.’ I always want to be the role model that I thought I never had.”

A pivotal moment in Mary’s journey was earning a sports scholarship with UL Sport for triathlon.

"I wrote in my diary when I was 15 that I wanted to get a UL sports scholarship. I thought it would be for swimming, but life had other plans. Overcoming my eating disorder and starting triathlon was a turning point. UL’s support gave me the confidence to excel as an athlete."

As she reflects on her recent achievement of completing an Iron Man competition in Sweden and steps into her new role as an aerodynamicist and the first female on the team at Kú Cycle, a high performance bicycle manufacturer, Mary is excited for a future of open-ended opportunities.

"I’m excited to see how this career in sports pans out. It’s a semi-pro programme now, but who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be the first triathlete to compete in space, just like American astronaut Sunita Williams who ran the Boston Marathon in space."

For Mary, UL was the turning point where her life fell into place and where she felt she could be her authentic self. "UL really set us up well," she says. "The support was always there, whether from lecturers, the learning centres, or sports coaches. Every challenge I faced, I overcame with their help."

As one of UL's Home of Firsts ambassadors, Mary's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of following your passions, and the limitless possibilities that arise when you dare to be different. She feels strongly about being brave and cutting your own path to where you want to go and she offers some advice to those who may relate to her experiences.

“You’re capable of doing whatever you put your mind to. Put the time in and don’t be afraid to be different or the first. Sign up for things, get involved, be open to new experiences and meeting new people. You belong. From not feeling like this for such a long time to where I am now, I know there is a space for everyone.”