Sonia O'Sullivan presented daughter Sophie with her European U18 Championships silver medal in Hungary this evening in a symbolic passing of the torch after the 16-year-old's debut showing for Ireland ended in glory.
Sophie O'Sullivan was born and raised in Australia but represented her mother's country for the first time in Gyor this week. The hugely promising talent took second in Friday's final.
One of the proudest parents in Gyor!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 8, 2018
Sonia O'Sullivan's daughter Sophie won a silver medal in the 800m at the European U18 Championships last night.
Listen to her thoughts after last night's 800m final. pic.twitter.com/dnDP5KNN2O
Sonia O'Sullivan won 5000m silver for Ireland at the 2000 Olympic Games and World Championships gold over the same distance in Gothenburg in 1995.
She draped a medal around her own daughter's neck on Sunday evening after being asked to do the honours at the championship. Rhasidat Adeleke also received her 200m gold.
"There was no pressure or expectations; I just wanted her to go out there and run her best and walk off the track happy," O'Sullivan said of Sophie's build-up to the competition.
"She's delighted with her performance.
"When I saw her walking to the start line and she was dancing to the music I though, 'she's still relaxed!' I knew she was going to run really well.
"The 800m is one of those races that if you're in a good position and you're a competitive person, then anything can happen."
Great to see @EuroAthletics inviting double European Champion Sonia O’Sullivan to present the medals for the European U18 800m athletes including the silver to her daughter Sophie. #Priceless pic.twitter.com/7a52FNzX9w
— Pierce O'Callaghan (@Pierceathletics) July 8, 2018
Sophie is a former U17 Australian champion over 800m and 1500m. Sonia O'Sullivan said she bedded into the team seamlessly, and said it was her that had most of the nerves all week.
"To be part of the Irish team out here has been fantastic. All the girls have been really welcoming to Sophie. This is her first Irish team. She only knows the girls the past couple of weeks. She's had a fantastic time. It's been brilliant. Hopefully there's many more years to come.
"I feel very relieved. Every day Sophie progressed to the next race I was thinking, 'the week is getting easier', because you don't want to be out here and then she's not in the race.
"She'll come and pick up a medal (on Sunday). It's made the championship even more enjoyable for me. It's made life easy for me!"
The medal presentation gets under way at 6.10pm Irish time.
