Derval O'Rourke put her injury troubles behind her to cause a massive upset and win the European 100 metres hurdles silver medal in Gothenburg tonight.
The 25-year-old Cork woman overcame a tricky draw in style, lowering her own Irish record by 0.13 seconds, to 12.72sec, behind Susanna Kallur.
This year's world indoor 60m hurdles gold medallist had to wait a nailbiting five minutes before learning she had beaten Kirsten Bolm of Germany - who was given the same time.
But after a protest by Germany, the European Athletics Association decided that O'Rourke and Bolm dead-heated and will now both be awarded silver medals.
Sweden's Kallur, backed by her home crowd, confirmed her status as European number one this year, clocking 12.59sec.
O'Rourke's ignored advice to take a rest from hurdling after picking up an injury which constantly troubled her when training - and was assisted by Limerick physio Gerard Hartman.
And her efforts were rewarded as she added another major medal to her collection in the sold out Ullevi stadium.
'I tried to beat Susanna, but this night belongs to her in front of her home crowd,' she said of the gold medallist who finished behind her at the World Indoors in Moscow in March.
'But I wanted a medal and I knew it would be very difficult in lane one.
'I just ran and kept my focus on winning. I am so happy.
'This season means more to me than my world indoor title.
'My parents are here, my coach (Jim Kilty) and so many Irish fans - and I've done the national record. It's amazing,' she said after the greatest achievement of her career.
Deidre Ryan, after equalling her national high jump record of 1.92m in the qualifying round, failed to show a repeat of that form in her final tonight.
Ryan finished last, clearing a height of only 1.84m as Belgium's Tia Hellebaut unexpectedly won the gold medal with a championship and national record of 2.03m.
Aoife Byrne failed to qualify for the final of the women's 1,500 metres, finishing 14th in her semi-final in a time of 4 minutes 16.07 seconds.
