Rhasidat Adeleke has produced a remarkable finish to take silver in the women’s 200 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
The Tallaght sprinter looked unlikely to challenge for a medal entering the final stages, but produced a huge burst down the home straight to climb onto the podium.
Adeleke was around fourth place as the runners straightened for home.
She refused to settle for that position, however, moving into third before powering past Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the closing metres to secure second place.
Britain’s Amy Hunt took the European title in 22.19 seconds.
Adeleke crossed the line in 22.28, setting a new Irish national record, with Asher-Smith just behind in 22.29.
The silver medal represents a significant moment for the Dublin athlete following a difficult period in her career.
Adeleke has had to deal with injuries and a dip in form, while also facing questions about her performances.
She admitted afterwards that her immediate reaction was disappointment at missing out on gold.
But that feeling quickly gave way to an appreciation of just how far she had come.
“I feel really grateful to have come away with a medal,” Adeleke said.
She explained that she is trying to approach her athletics differently, focusing more on appreciating the positives rather than allowing disappointment to dominate.
The national record was another reason for Adeleke to celebrate.
She also spoke candidly about the pressure she has felt while trying to recover her best form, admitting that she had questioned herself during the difficult spells.
There was a sense of relief as much as celebration in her words.
“I just want to be free. I want to be happy. I want to enjoy this sport,” she said.
Adeleke credited the people around her with helping her rebuild her confidence over the past few weeks.
She said their support had been crucial when she found herself being overly critical of her own performances.
The 200m silver is therefore about more than simply another medal.
It is evidence that Adeleke’s hard work is beginning to pay off again after a period when she wasn’t sure whether she could get back to this level.
Reflecting on the difficult journey, Adeleke summed up her comeback with a simple message.
“There was just so many times I was like, ‘am I cooked?'”
Her answer after securing European silver was emphatic.
“I’m not cooked.”
With a national record and a European silver medal now added to her season, Adeleke has delivered a powerful reminder of her ability to compete with the best in Europe.
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