THOMAS BARR secured a historic bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the European Athletic Championships in Berlin on Thursday.
Finishing in a season’s best 48.31 seconds, the result means the Waterford native becomes the first Irish male sprinter to win an outdoor European medal in the 84-year history of the event.
(Image: Getty)Barr started on the outside lane but was overtaken by eventual winner Karsten Warholm of Norway and Turkey’s Yasmani Copello on the final bend.
As the 26-year-old battled with Ludvy Vaillant for third place, the Irishman found another gear to pull away from the Frenchman in the final straight and secure a podium finish.
Thank you thank you thank you everyone for all your messages! I can not believe this day has come true... it’s genuinely insane!! Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen and to everyone for their messages of support!! 😍☘️🇮🇪
— Thomas Barr (@TomBarr247) August 9, 2018
Speaking afterwards, Barr said the atmosphere in Berlin reminded him of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where he agonisingly missed out on bronze in the event despite setting the Irish record of 47.97 seconds
“It was really reminiscent of Rio with all the Irish flags and fans out there. It all came together and I was raring to go from the afternoon to get out there,” said Barr.
(Image: Getty)“I really wanted that hardware and to join Ciara (Mageean) and Mark (English) with medals along with the greats like Sonia (O’Sullivan) and Derval (O’Rourke). I’m just so happy it came together and I’m really thankful to all my team.”
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led the tributes to Barr, from Waterford’s Ferrybank Athletics Club.
“My warmest congratulations to Thomas Barr on winning bronze in the 400m hurdles at the European Athletics Championships today; a historic first for an Irish athlete and inspiration for so many people in Ireland.”
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 9, 2018
Brilliant Barr wins bronze!
Thunder storms and lightning may have delayed the report but there was no stopping @TomBarr247 winning an historic medal #super8s #starbarr #greatsuccess
https://t.co/hzR2h1pDEA pic.twitter.com/bLLlPWSCGP
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 9, 2018
Congratulations to Thomas Barr ona brilliant bronze! Another bright hope for Tokyo
— Shane Ross (@Shane_RossTD) August 9, 2018
Congratulations to #Waterford athlete Thomas Barr on winning a bronze medal in the European Athletics Championships. #DeiseAbu https://t.co/1NVM5Lml8V
— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) August 9, 2018
Meanwhile Ireland's Leon Reid finished seventh in the 200m final with a time of 20.37 seconds, just missing out on the Irish record.
