Advertisement
The mixed 4x400 relay team took centre stage on winners' podium today. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

'Everyone supporting us shows how far we can go' - Ireland's heroes collect gold medals

Thomas Barr, Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley and Chris O’Donnell took centre stage on winners’ podium today.

IRELAND’S GOLD MEDAL heroes took centre stage on the European Championships’ winners’ podium as they were presented with their mixed 4×400 relay medals.

Thomas Barr, Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley and Chris O’Donnell wrote their names in the history books with a time of 3:09.92 in a blistering run at the Stadio Olimpico last night.

It was a new national record, championship record, and just over a second outside the world record.

Italy finished second in 3:10.69, while Netherlands were third in 3:10.73 and the new European champions reflected on their achievement after the medal ceremony in Rome earlier today.

“Unbelievable. I thought my days of standing on podiums were possibly over, but with the help of this team we managed to get to the top of the podium to hear Amhrán na bhFiann ringing out throughout the stadium with heavy, heavy gold medals around our necks, calling ourselves European champions, that’s not going to get old,” Barr said after the medal ceremony today.

Adeleke paid tribute to her mother, Ade, and the support the team has received.

“She’s so proud. I’m so happy to have her out here supporting the whole way through. Pretty much everyone else out here supporting us, just having everyone out here, and cheering us on outside the track, on the track, it just brings us so much motivation and it gives us hopes for the rest of the championships. This is a very good starting point and having everyone here supporting us shows how far we can go.”

O’Donnell described standing on the podium as “awesome stuff, the stuff of dreams”, while Mawdsley added: “Once Ireland is here they always show up so to step on the podium in first place and hear the cheer when Ireland were announced as winners was something special. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”

Close
3 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sea Point
    Favourite Sea Point
    Report
    Jun 8th 2024, 6:10 PM

    Absolutely outstanding effort by the whole team, critical strong first 400m, the Rhasidat showing her world class ability, Barr despite being a hurdler, showing his experience and to give Charleene a great shot at Gold. The composure by Charleene was the highlight for me, so relaxed over the last 100m and stretching out instead of tightening up like the Belgiann runner. Bravo…

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ETH
    Favourite ETH
    Report
    Jun 8th 2024, 6:29 PM

    Outstanding achievement, Great commentary from Greg Allen, Lump in the throat stuff

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben F
    Favourite Ben F
    Report
    Jun 8th 2024, 6:49 PM

    Sharlene incredible.

    20
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel