Elizabeth Ndudi won Ireland's first ever field event gold medal at the European U20 Athletics Championships when she topped the long jump podium in Jerusalem on Thursday.
The 18-year-old leapt 6.56m, a new personal best and also a new Irish U20 record.
It was a tight competition. Just six centimetres separated Ndudi and the Swede Ayla Hallberg Hossain who finished in fourth. Bulgaria's Plamena Mitkova claimed silver with a 6.54m jump and Germany's Laura Raquel Muller the bronze with 6.51m.
"I really can't put it into words," said Ndudi.
"I’m still in shock. When I saw the German girl jump in front of me, I was like, 'Well I've done it'. I still can't believe that I've actually won. I've been working so hard for it. Now that it's actually happened, I just can't believe it.
The reaction is everything! 🥹💕
Elizabeth Ndudi jumps into the history books for Ireland 🇮🇪 with long jump gold in #Jerusalem2023! pic.twitter.com/uVTMB6bJJm— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) August 10, 2023
"I knew that I had it in me to get into that top eight and eventually get top five because I've improved mentally. I knew that I had the confidence to do it. It was a very tight competition and all of the girls are incredible.
"I was so hungry to win. Since the winter when I qualified for the championships, my goal was 'I want to win this'. I've been repeating that to myself every day. I was like 'I will be U20 long jump champion'. Now I've done it.
"It was a lot of pressure. I know last night I was pressured because I knew I owed it to myself to get on that podium. That's something I really, really wanted. Now that it's done, I'm so content, relaxed, relieved and happy with that win."
2 July 2023; Elizabeth Ndudi of Dundrum South Dublin AC, Dublin, competing in the Women's U20 Long Jump event during the 123.ie Junior & U23 Track and Field Championships at Tullamore in Offaly. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The jump is the second longest ever by an Irish woman, ranking just behind Kelly Proper's 6.62m effort.
"I was just so amazed," said Ndudi, the reigning Irish senior champion.
"I saw that it was a big jump. I didn't know if it would be an improvement on that 6.48m because I was already shocked with that 6.48. I just screamed. I just really couldn't believe it. I'm still in shock about everything. I'm just really happy. I had this goal to get into those 6.50m - 6.60m. This was my last competition to do so."
Last year, Ndudi finished seventh at the European U18 Championships.
"I was very disappointed with my place," she said.
"Obviously, I was looking at where I was placed going into the competition and I set my eyes on that. I was thinking 'Oh, I could get that top three and I finished seventh'.
"This is redemption for that. I owed it to myself. I think my younger self would be very happy. It's amazing."
Post race interview from our European U20 Long Jump Champion, Elizabeth Ndudi💚
"I was so hungry to win. Since I qualified for the Championships my goal was I want to win this...I will be U20 Long Jump Champion"
An amazing performance from Ndudi and a historic Gold for Ireland… pic.twitter.com/gkWkU88vZG— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 10, 2023
See Also: Nick Griggs Claims 3000m Silver For Ireland At Euro U20 Championships
