Jack Raftery
"Athletics doesn't last forever... I see myself working in the engineering field soon enough."
Irish Olympian Jack Raftery, who competes for Ireland in the 400 metre sprint, has just graduated from DCU with a Bachelor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. It may not be obvious to most of us, but for Jack, there’s a clear link between Engineering and Athletics.
“I think the two pursuits go hand in hand, in the sense that you have to do problem-solving and grinding it out. It's very similar to how you have to manage your body and figure out what works and what doesn't throughout the year.”
The Dubliner says it was the combination of DCU’s strength in Athletics and Engineering that led him to apply to the University.
“I knew very early I wanted to do engineering. I always had a very strong maths base, and really loved problem-solving. I couldn't really see myself doing anything else in college,” says Jack.
His choice of DCU was just as much centred on sporting excellence. Jack was part of the Irish team that went to the Paris Olympics and, more recently, competed in the International Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He says the University’s flexible and supportive system for athletes was a big draw, meaning that he was able to fit his academic year around major competitions.
During his time at DCU, the University took over the running of Morton Stadium in Santry, resulting in a multi-million euro upgrade to outdoor and indoor facilities at the National Athletics centre.
“It’s been huge,” says Jack, who points out that the upgrade means top-class track and gym facilities are all in one place. This also makes it easier for coaches to work more effectively with their athletes. “It just works. Everything gels a lot better.”
He adds that the social aspect is another important element. “Everyone gets to know each other very well. It's like, most of my close friends in DCU are from DCU Athletics.”
And as Jack climbs the ladder of international athletics, it’s perhaps apt that one of his favourite parts of the Engineering course was the semester-long ‘Fireman Project’ in third year. This involved a team of students developing a machine that can climb up a 2 metre ladder holding a beaker of water, spilling as little liquid as possible.
“We ended up winning that project comfortably, and that was probably one of the most enjoyable things, because it started to come together in the end, and we knew it was working quite well, so we could take the time to see if something's working a little bit better here or not.”
He found the high proportion of hands-on work in the DCU course was a big plus. The focus on practical work in the lab suited his learning style. “I need to see something, to feel it,” explains Jack.
“An awful lot of planning,” is Jack’s answer to the obvious question of how he managed to juggle a demanding academic life with a high-intensity training schedule.
“But it always kind of helped that Athletics was a break away from study, and study was a break away from athletics.”
Looking ahead, Jack has plenty of ambitions. As well as looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics, he has the national 400 metre record is in his sights, and is targetting a place in the next European Championship Final. “I only missed making the individual 400 in the World Championships by a couple spots, and I'm looking at a lot of those European lads ahead of me, going, I deserve to be in the mix in the final next year in Birmingham.”
On the professional side, Jack has registered to continue his studies with a part-time Master's of Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering at DCU. For now, he’s continuing to take a twin-track approach to life. “As everyone knows, athletics doesn't last forever and you have to find something you enjoy outside the sport as well. So I see myself working in the engineering field soon enough.”