Mother’s pride at Barr’s heroics

FETHARD-ON-SEA woman Martina French looked on with pride as her son Thomas Barr ran the race of his life in the men’s Olympics 400 metre hurdles final in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

Barr lost out on a bronze medal by just five hundredths of a second. He broke the 48 second barrier to come home in a time of 47.97 in a personal best.

Barr had broken his own Irish record to win the third semi-final on Tuesday night in 48.39 seconds, the third fastest qualifying time for the final.

It was a remarkable achievement for the 24-year-old to even make the final given how much Barr’s season has been blighted by injury.

His mother hails from Fethard-on-Sea and his grandmother Breda French and all his family and supporters in Wexford, Waterford and Limerick, where he is in college, cheered him on as he came close to Olympic glory.

Martina said: ‘It was pretty devastating for him as he didn’t know if he was going to make it over there. The last few months before the games were particularly tough. This year he had to be in the full of his health then an injury popped up ahead of the games.’

Tommy and his father Martina embraced him during a live interview after the race and spoke of their joy and pride.

Martina said; ‘Look at the times that that race was run in. We’re so excited!’