https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4_l1rHpmiY
Thomas Barr claimed Ireland's first gold at this year's World University Games this morning in Gwanju, South Korea. Barr is the first Irish gold medal winner at the games since Sonia O’Sullivan and Niall Bruton both won in the 1500m in 1991.
It was a tight race, and Barr was behind coming into the home straight. However, the Waterford 22-year-old stormed home in 48.78 just ahead of Algeria's Abdelmalik Lahoulou.
Barr's time was short of his Irish record recorded in the Diamond League meeting in Rome last month. The Univeristy of Limerick student is one of the few Irish athletes who have already qualified for the Beijing World Championships next month.
Other Irish success at the games include Fiona Doyle's silver medal in the 50m breaststroke
Thank you for all the messages. This is literally surreal, only out from anti-doping now, and letting it sink in... pic.twitter.com/xkUJDDzPvK
— Thomas Barr (@TomBarr247) July 10, 2015
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
