Mark English has won the gold medal in the men’s 800m while Rhasidat Adeleke grabbed silver in the women’s 200m at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Irishman English came home ahead of the rest in 1:45.26 with Croatia’s Marino Bloudek second in 1:45.62 and Mohamed Attaqui of Spain third in 1:45.71.
The Donegal athlete got away in perfect position, second-over on the outside line behind the front two of Bloudek and Attaqui.
He trailed Bloudek around the final bend before making his move – the “one move only” that his coach had stressed – and powered home to an eased-down victory.
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English’s win is the first ever men’s gold medal for an Irish athlete at the European Championships.
He told RTÉ Sport: “I can’t sum it up. I think I’m relieved more than anything. I really wanted a gold medal today and just really thankful I took it home. I have so many people to thank.
“I’m so happy. I really wanted that title, like really badly. We get into the sport to run records and to win races primarily. I knew I wouldn’t have been happy if I couldn’t finish my career without a title.”
Asked about the feeling crossing the line, he said: “I have dreamt of that moment before.
“It’s totally different when you experience it. It’ll take me a while to process it. I can’t put it into words at the minute.”
The venue in Birmingham was awash with Irish support who roared English home.
He spoke of the backing he received.
“I’ve had so much support, even from my home club, Finn Valley, and Patsy McGonagle up there [in Donegal].
“It’s the best Irish support I’ve ever ran in front of. Just the sheer number. I think there was even more Irish than there was British here, to be honest.
“I think there was probably twice as much Irish. It’s amazing, honestly. It’s been 12 years since I won the first medal. I’ve had every other colour except gold. Today I finally get to stand on top of that podium. It’s a bloody amazing feeling.”
Barely 20 minutes later, Tallaght girl Adeleke charged home fastest of all in the closing stages to snare the silver medal in a breath-taking women’s 200m final.
Adeleke was at best fourth placed as they straightened up for home but she dug deep and pushed herself into third before outfighting Dina Asher-Smith for second spot in the dying strides.
Amy Hunt of Britain took gold in 22.19 with Adeleke clocking 22.28 and Asher-Smith 22.29.
The Irish runner took a deep view of her success, after first feeling regret: “I feel really grateful to have come away with a medal.
“I think initially, as soon as I crossed the line, my initial thought was, ‘oh, I didn’t win’.
“And I had to bring it back to who I now want to be. I don’t want to be that person anymore.
“I want to find gratitude in everything. So as soon as that sank in, I realised I broke the national record.
“From where I came from this season, even last season, I have nothing else to do but be grateful, honestly.
“It just means so much to me, just knowing the journey. I know I don’t show everything that I do and everything I go through, but I think even showing snippets now is really helpful because it almost alleviates that stress a bit, because people are asking, ‘what’s going on?’
“‘Why aren’t you running this and that?’
“And I’m just internalising everything, and it’s so heavy to carry.
“And now I just want to be free. I want to be happy. I want to enjoy this sport.
“It’s given me so much. I want to give it so much. And yeah, I’m just really grateful.”
Having lost form and suffered injury problems, the Dubliner admitted at times she doubted whether she could reach this level: “I think the main thing I did was keep showing up. The people who I have around me, the people who have been helping me the last couple of weeks to get me back on my horse, the times I talk down to myself, they’re quick to redirect me to positive thoughts.
“It’s unreal. I just can’t. Honestly guys, if you guys knew this journey, there’s just so many times I was like, ‘am I cooked?’
“I’m not cooked.”
