Efrem Gidey may not have won a European medal in Munich on Sunday night but his performance was one of the best from an Irish perspective at the championships.
The 21-year-old who is a member of Clonliffe Harriers AC finished sixth in the 10,000m in a time of 27.59.22, and was in medal contention up until the final 500m of the race.
💥6TH PLACE FOR EFREM GIDEY IN 10,000M FINAL💥
21-year-old Efrem Gidey has produced the run of his life to secure a 6th place finish in the final of the 10,000m🙌 Hiko crossing in 18th🇮🇪
Efrem Gidey 6th⏱️27:59.22PB
Hiko Haso 18th⏱️28:38.82
Result: https://t.co/udPy17a9Vh pic.twitter.com/9FYcDgUssh— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 21, 2022
The journey Gidey has been on to get to where he is now is extraordinary.
It's only just over five years ago since he left behind his war-torn home country to move to Ireland.
The process of making it to Dublin was long and arduous, Gidey spent several months in refugee camps in Calais.
Cycling was the dominant sport in his home country but after moving to Mulhuddart where he stayed in temporary accommodation he began to display potential with his running.
Working with the late Joe Cooper first and now Peter McDermott in Clonliffe, the young athlete has gone from strength to strength.
Just after two years after arriving in Ireland, Gidey made his International debut for his adopted country at the 2019 European Cross Country Championships in Portugal.
That race was where people really began to take notice of the emerging talent.
Gidey ran strongly to claim an unexpected bronze medal, with Norwegian sensation Jakob Ingerbrigtsen claiming gold.
His 2020 and 2021 seasons were quite, due to Covid and injuries but he has bounced back with a bang this year.
Gidey has ran new personal bests in both the 5000m and 10,000m this summer and also won the national 5k title on the road in May.
He had the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European 10,000m Cup in Pace, France earlier in the summer, where he also finished sixth with a brave and gutsy run.
At just 21, Ireland's Efrem Gidey is an athlete going places. pic.twitter.com/Z09ziI5dAk
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
"Sky is the limit" for Efrem Gidey
Following his performance last night RTÉ panelist Robert Heffernan described Gidey's performance in Munich as "absolutely phenomenal."
"It is the best performance we've ever had from an Irish athlete in a 10,000m European final," Heffernan said.
"He broke his own PB tonight, he's only 21 years of age.
"The sky is the limit for this young man.
"We're delighted to have him and I've no doubt he's a massive positive influence for everybody on the team."
Gidey's story is inspirational and the next generation of Irish athletes will without question be looking up to him now.
An athlete who has accomplished so much in such a short space of time.
SEE ALSO: Mark English Says He Has The Hunger For More After Winning European Bronze
21 August 2022; Mark English of Ireland after winning bronze in the Men's 800m Final during day 11 of the European Championships 2022 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
