Nadia Power and Eilish Flanagan have clinched medals for Ireland at the European U23 Athletic Championships in Gavle in Sweden.
There was drama as Power won bronze in the 800m despite being initially disqualified, while Flanagan collected a silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase.
Power put in an excellent performance in the final, finishing strongly to claim third place behind the British pair of Jemma Reekie and Ellie Baker.
However, it would soon emerge that she had been disqualified. She was adjudged to have obstructed one of her opponents during the race, but she was subsequently reinstated and awarded the bronze medal upon appeal.
"Obviously I was over the moon earlier on but then I didn't know anything," Power told Athletics Ireland after finally clinching the medal.
"They announced I came third and then someone just called me over about 10 minutes after the race and said I was disqualified. And then I was just lucky enough to have everyone really on my side for the appeal.
Brilliant bronze medal run by @irishathletics 🇮🇪 Nadia Power from Templeogue, Dublin in the European U23 800m Final this evening in Gavle Sweden 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/vtiWAD4zKp
— Pierce O'Callaghan (@Pierceathletics) July 13, 2019
"British Athletics backed me up because I was meant to have pushed the winner and I obviously didn't impede her because she ended up winning. I'm just really grateful to the staff from Athletics Ireland for fighting for me.
"And [to] everyone who had to deal with my mood for the last hour but we can celebrate now.
"This is my first 800m championship but I've changed from wanting to just qualify for international competitions to this year saying 'qualifying wasn't enough, I want a medal.' It was a brave enough goal but it feels amazing to have achieved it."
A rollercoaster ride for Nadia Power but she finally has that bronze medal! pic.twitter.com/ivu00x2IgP
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 13, 2019
This followed an earlier silver medal won by Eilish Flanagan in the 3000m steeplechase. Flanagan put in a super performance to secure second place with a personal best of 9:51.72.
Focus now turns to Sunday with the women's 4 x 100 Relay team due to take to the track 10.07am.
David Kenny will go in the 20k walk at 2.15pm.
