Ciara Mageean made even more history for Ireland by winning the gold medal in the 1500m final at the European Athletics Championships on Sunday night.
Mageean, who won bronze at the event back in 2016 and then silver in 2022, put in a stellar showing to surge clear late on and cement her place in history.
The County Down native spent a large portion of the race in fourth place, biding her time with fellow favourite Jemma Reekie of Britain at the front and dictating the place.
A gap looked unlikely to emerge but Mageean pounced with 50 metres remaining, forcing her way through and did not look back.
Léigh an scéal seo anois trí Ghaeilge ar Liathróidí.ie brúigh anseo
Gold 🥇 for Ciara Mageean in the women's 1500m final!!!☘️ #Roma2024
📺 Watch on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/u9agcdv6MP— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 9, 2024
Mageean - who is the national record holder at both 800m and 1500m - achieved her dream in front of a packed crowd in Rome and cut an emotional figure after her success.
Ciara Mageean channelled camogie skills to claim European gold medal
Speaking to RTE's David Gillick after her gold medal win, an overjoyed Mageean reflected on her race and revealed how her camogie background with Portaferry GAC came in handy.
Words can't even come close!" Mageean reflected.
"Everyone back home knows how hard I have been working for this. I went out on that track today super nervous but with a plan and a mission and that was to hear Amhran na bhFiann.
"When I was getting boxed in I thought I had all the legs left and nowhere to go but I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in!
"I want to thank everyone who has helped me to get here today to win my first ever senior gold medal for Ireland; to be at the top of the podium to hear our national anthem and to show world ahtletics that the Irish are here and we belong!
"Mummy, Daddy, everyone at home I love you to bits thank you so much for everything! We did it!"
"I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in."
Ciara Mageean gives her reaction to @DavidGillick after winning GOLD 🥇 in the women's 1500m Final at the European Athletics Championships☘️ #Roma2024 pic.twitter.com/kIynFPW0WV— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 9, 2024
Fellow European gold medallist Sonia O'Sullivan shared her admiration for Mageean in studio after the win, noting how well she did after being boxed in by her opponents.
'It is unbelievable. She just found a way. I think everybody else in the race was trying to stop her and knew Ciara was the one to beat.
"I think frankly everyone tried to block her in!
"Ciara held her nerve and even when she tried to squeeze through a gap that was no quite big enough she still waited until the right time.
"If you are patient and wait those gaps do appear and she was so patient. It was a game of chess and Ciara made that final move. It was brilliant."
Mageean's well earned gold medal adds to what has already been a brilliant week for Ireland.
The mixed 4x400m relay team made up of Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley put in a record-breaking display to finish first earlier this week.
