European silver medal winner Phil Healy's sister praises parents ...
Phil Healy's big sister and athlete Joan Healy has praised their parents who have been supporting them every step of their sports careers.
Last night, Phil Healy, alongside Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley, won another European silver medal for Ireland at the women's 4x400m relay at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
The Irish women were only beaten by the reigning world champions - the Netherlands.
Following their success, Phil's older sister Joan, who is also an Irish athlete, said it's "so much harder" to watch those races rather than compete in them due to the nerves.
"I've been an athlete myself and I've been at many of those champs competing and it's far easier being the athlete," Joan Healy told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"Being a spectator last night, I was at the edge of my seat. I was on nerves really all day, I had a sick feeling in my stomach because we knew what was possible.
"I know how hard these girls have worked and this hasn't been an overnight success.
"These girls have been working so hard for so many years. But we all knew that there was a chance last night so it was just so exciting and it was just a brilliant sight to see," she said.
The Cork native, from Ballineen, added nothing would be possible without the constant support of their parents as they are a "family of runners".
"We're a family of runners, we're down here in Cork, and we don't have as many facilities as some parts around the country and we've had to travel up and down to Dublin quite a bit and travelling abroad a lot.
"But they've been with us every step of the way and they've been supporting us and they've been at every race, every championship, and either of us and especially Phil wouldn't be here without them," Joan added.
Like in every championship, the girls' parents cheered on Phil Healy from the stands at the Italian stadium last night.
"I spoke to my mom straight after the race and she was hysterical but it was an amazing thing for them to see because they've been with us since we started athletics when we were 10 and 11.
"They've been travelling to championships with us all these years and to finally see the girls and for Phil to finally get her medal at this stage in her career was just so amazing," she added.
