It was delights and hugs all round as the Republic of Ireland won its first European Athletics gold since 1998.
County Tipperary-born Sharlene Mawdsley ran a blistering final leg to overhaul the Belgians team before bringing the baton across the finishing line, after stellar and gutsy runs by Christopher O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke and Thomas Barr un the Mixed 4x400m relay in Rome.
This was the first ever running of the relay event at the European Athletics Championships, and it was won in fine style by the team in green. It was also a first European gold for the Irish in 26 years.
It was Italy who took silver on home territory, while the Netherlands - who had the great Femke Bol running the last leg - manage to take bronze in this new and exciting addition to first-class international athletics. The Belgians end up back in fourth, while the British team finish fifth.
Other headlines saw homegirl, Nadia Battocletti claim gold in the Women's 5000 Metres, whilst the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder and Jorinde van Klinken claimed gold and silver in the Women's Shot Put. Former world champion Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia won the discus, after throwing 68.08 meters to put him ahead of silver medallist, Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria (67.70) and Mykolas Alekna (67.48), the Lithuanian who broke.
Host, Italy, claimed gold and silver in the Women's 20 Kilometres Walk with Antonella Palmisano taking the top spot on the podium and Valentina Trapletti claiming a silver medal. Ukraine walker, Lyudmila Olyanovska, got a bronze in the event.
