Mark English ran the race of his life to win bronze in the European 800 metres final in Munich.
The 29-year-old Letterkenny man looked composed and finished in third place in a time of 1.45.19.
It’s his second bronze medal after he claimed another third place in the European Championships in Zurich in 2014.
The Finn Valley athlete never looked like giving up his third place position as he ran down the home straight behind the Spaniard Garcia who won gold and Englishman Jake Whiteman who claimed silver.
Athletics legend Sonia O’Sullivan praised the attitude of Mark.
“From the minute the gun was fired he put himself in that position and he was never out of the top three. He was very patient and very brave.
“It was great and well deserved. He had his mind right. It was just reward for all he has put in this year.”
RTE commentator Derval O’Rourke said Mark had “laser focus.”
“Nothing was happening in this race without Mark controlling it. This was a super, super race,” she said.
English was the third fastest qualifier into the final having finished third in his semi-final on Friday evening in a time of 1:46.66.
This was an improvement on his time of 1:47.54 in his heat on Thursday morning last, a race he won easily.
English had looked controlled yet sharp in both races to qualify for tonight’s final.
