'Someone very special up there is helping me' - Lavin wins bronze at European Games

Lavin let the emotion spill out of her, her achievement all the more poignant given she had lost her boyfriend – rally star Craig Breen – in an accident just two months ago.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: Sarah Lavin of Ireland celebrates after winning the women's 100m hurdles at the Silesian Stadium during the European Games 2023 in Chorzow, Poland. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Sarah Lavin had long dreamt of a day like this, a medal like this, though perhaps not in the manner it arrived. The 29-year-old was already back home in Limerick, three days removed from her superb run in the 100m hurdles at the Slaski Stadium in Poland, when she realised she was a European Games medallist.

That was due to Ireland languishing in division three of the European Team Championships, which took place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with Lavin blitzing a 12.82 clocking on Wednesday morning, helping Ireland to victory and to gain promotion to the second division.