Thomas Barr had the performance of his life in the wee hours of Wednesday, and he fully appreciated his momentous achievement.
The last time an Irish sprinter reached an Olympic 400m hurdle final, World War II hadn’t even happened yet.
Tipperary man Bob Tisdall achieved this feat at the Los Angeles games in 1932 and won it outright to claim the gold medal. 84-years later, Thomas Barr became the next Irishman to reach the medal’s race in the event by winning his semi-final in stunning fashion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXThelDQebs
The Waterford native was fourth place in his semi-final turning into the home straight, but managed to find a powerful surge in the final stages to leave his competitors choking on his dust.
He will go into the final as the third-ranked qualifier crossing the line in a time of 48.39, a new national record and a personal best. Speaking to RTE after the event, Barr admitted he was so overjoyed that he had yet to fully appreciate his amazing achievement.
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. It hasn’t sunk in. I’m just really delighted, because again, like yesterday, it could have gone either way.”
“I felt really good in warm-ups. I felt really relaxed and pumped. You know, yesterday I was a lot more nervous because I was in the unknown. I had only run 50 point in Amsterdam and I wasn’t sure when I came out here whether I was a 50 point or a 49 or a 48. I just completely skipped 49 and straight down to 48, and low 48 today.”
“I’m ecstatic, thrilled and I can’t wait for the final. I kept telling myself that this is wide open, and it’s still wide open.”
A thrilled Thomas Barr looks forward to a 'wide open' Olympic 400m hurdles final https://t.co/ul9puAw2Ri
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 17, 2016
Barr is set to take part in the 400m hurdles final, which is scheduled for 4pm Irish time on Thursday.
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
