Sonia O'Sullivan has coached the home favourite Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen to 5000m gold at the European Athletics Championships.
Klosterhalfen ran a blistering last kilometre to move past Turkish favourite Yasmin Can in the final 800m and gradually stretched her lead to take gold in 14:50.47.
The conclusion of a thrilling women's 5000m final as home favourite Konstanze Klosterhalfen - coached by Sonia O'Sullivan - wins gold before a jubilant crowd, while Ireland's Roisin Flanagan places 14th #rtesport #Munich2022 pic.twitter.com/Q7wVn7qd1p
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 18, 2022
The 25-year-old from Bonn has been coached by O'Sullivan since June 2021.
O'Sullivan was in the RTÉ studio where she gave her reaction to 'Koko's' superb victory.
"We know Koko's super talented and she's won a bronze medal at the World Championships but she hasn't run anything like that in a long time," a delighted O'Sullivan said.
"I think it was (the secret) being in Munich with the home crowd behind her.
"She hasn't finished so strong in a race all year.
"You could see the emotion at the end, how much it meant to her."
Derval O'Rourke who was also on the panel paid tribute to her colleague.
"What an effort from coach Sonia.
"She was sitting here as cool as a cucumber not a bother on her.
"That's the moment of a career; gold and European champion in your home country, in front of all those people screaming your name. She is loved there."
Klosterhalfen thanks coach Sonia O'Sullivan
Klosterhalfen thanked her coach when talking to David Gillick.
"Thank you Sonia so, so much, I send you lots of love.
"We all won the title together.
"I think you won the title in Munich as well and to win this is so special to me."
'Thank you Sonia so much, I send you lots of love... I know you won the title in Munich as well!'
Koko Klosterhalfen gives a shout-out to her coach Sonia O'Sullivan in the RTÉ studio after her stunning win in the 5000m final #rtesport #Munich2022 pic.twitter.com/fDeZ2yPFSn— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 18, 2022
Ireland's Roisin Flanagan from Tyrone finished in a respectable 14th, just seven seconds outside the PB she set at the Commonwealth Games less than two weeks ago.
Earlier in the evening Andrew Coscoran finished 9th in the final of the 1500m.
The Balbriggan man finished in a time of 3:39.91, some way short of his PB of 3:35.66.
Norwegian star Jacob Ingebrigtsen took victory leading the field from start to finish.
Ingebrigtsen secured the 1500m/5000m double in comfortable fashion.
SEE ALSO: Rhasidat Adeleke Finishes Fifth In European 400m Final
