Phil Healy has narrowly missed out on a medal in the 400m final at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland tonight.
The Cork native fought hard in the final 100m to record a time of 51.94, a personal best in an impressive showing.
The 26-year-old showed incredible resilience after falling behind midway through the race to edge fourth ahead of the Netherlands' Lieke Klaver.
Femke Bol took home gold, while Justyna Swiety-Ersetic and Jodie Williams completed the podium.
“I said I’d go out fighting and I’d die fighting in the process and that’s what I did,” said Healy. “I got so close to the medals, I was just 0.2 out but I came away with a personal best and to do that in there with a world-class field I’m delighted.
"I know people would be disappointed with fourth but this was my first major final.
“Everyone in that race has speed but I had to put myself in contention. I got caught in a bit of a mess but I came home strong. I never had that last 50 before and to come away fourth, I’m buzzing and to get a PB in the process.
"Any of those girls would be in the medals at a World Indoors and to be in contention with them, to be battling for the medals…I gave it everything. That was a messy race and my third since yesterday morning so there is a lot quicker there. I’ll leave that for future major championships.”
Elsewhere, 18-year-old Cian McPhillips put in an impressive performance to finish fourth in the 800m semi-finals, while two-time European medallist Mark English also came fourth in his semi-final.
Nadia Power suffered disappointment in her 800m semi-final, she placed fourth despite leading the race heading into the final lap.
Earlier in the day, Sean Tobin qualified for tomorrow's 3,000m final after running a personal best time of 7:47.71 to qualify as the second fastest runner-up in his heat.
And Sarah Lavin is into the 60m hurdles semi-finals tomorrow, the Limerick native finished third in her heat as she too recorded a personal best time of 8.03.
