WATCH: Stunning run sees Portaferry's Ciara Mageean clinch bronze at European Championships
Ciara Mageean will be brimming with confidence going into Rio 2016 after picking up 1500m bronze at the European Championships in Amsterdam on Sunday.
After a modest early pace, Portaferry's Mageean turned on the afterburners towards the finish line and came close to pipping Dutch fan-favourite Sifan Hassan for the silver.
The 24-year-old crossed the line at 4:33.78, earning Mageean her first medal at senior international level in an event won by Poland's Angelika Cichocka.
Ciara Mageean's lung-busting run to clinch bronze (and very nearly silver) at the European Championships. #RTEsporthttps://t.co/qw4H51jjcN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2016
Mageean, who has struggled with injury in her young career, qualified for this year's Olympic games when the qualification standards were revised by the IAAF.
Her resolute run to the line on Sunday afternoon, coupled with an injury-free winter of preparation, will have her hopeful of replicating her European showing in Brazil.
With the green, white and gold!! @ciaramageean #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/1K2Sq3yYtj
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 10, 2016
Well done @ciaramageean bronze medal @Euro_Champs must be that @wyldsson nut butter been keeping me going here @RTEsport all week 🏃🏻☘🏅💐
— sonia osullivan (@soniaagrith) July 10, 2016
.@ciaramageean you're a hero!!! 🍀 I can't think of a more deserving medallist! #Amsterdam2016
— Jessie Barr (@JessieBarr247) July 10, 2016
Look at that final sprint! A hair width to silver! @ciaramageean you're my total hero! 🇮🇪☘ #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/8Xej4sJ5bR
— Natalya Coyle (@Natalyacoyle) July 10, 2016
Class @ciaramageean 🏃🏼🙌🏼 #ECH2016 #watchOutRio #TeamIreland #☘ https://t.co/wBSQonvZ7C
— Arthur LOK (@ArthurLOK1) July 10, 2016
Brilliant @ciaramageean just brilliant
— Olive Loughnane (@OliveLoughnane) July 10, 2016
