Ireland are celebrating unprecedented medal success and strong performances overall on the track and in the swimming pool in European Championships held last week.
Donegal medical doctor Mark English took gold in the 800 meters on Thursday evening in the European Championships held in Birmingham.
Twenty minutes later, 23-year-old Rhasidat Akeleke added to her career medal haul by winning silver in the 200 meters and breaking the Irish national record at the Alexander Stadum.
Rhasidat Akeleke with her silver medal. [Inpho/Morgan Treacy]
Earlier in the week Kate O’Connor took gold in the Women’s Heptathlon. And finally at the weekend, Andrew Coscoran won bronze in the 1,500 meters.
Among the other notable Irish performances were Sarah Healy’s 4th- and 5th place finishes in the women’s 5,000m and 1,500m finals.
In the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, Dubliner Ellen Walshe won gold in both the 200m individual medley and the 400m individual medley; while Sligo’s Mona McSharry won three medals — a silver in the 100m breaststroke, and bronze in the 50m and 200m breaststroke races.
Several other members of the young Irish team broke national records in Paris.
Mona McSharry celebrates one of her three medal wins in Paris. [Inpho/Andrew Staccioli]
