‘We’re a family of runners’**Phil Healy's older sister and fellow athlete, Joan Healy, has expressed her admiration for their parents, who have supported them throughout their sports careers.

Last night, Phil Healy, along with Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley, secured another European silver medal for Ireland in the women's 4x400m relay at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Following their success, Joan Healy, who is also an Irish athlete, mentioned that it is 'much harder' to watch those races rather than compete in them due to the nerves.

'I've been an athlete myself and I've competed in many of those championships, and it's far easier being the athlete,' Joan Healy told RTÉ.

'Being a spectator last night, I was on the edge of my seat.

I was nervous all day, I had a sick feeling in my stomach because we knew what was possible.

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 that 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 travel 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 neither 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 traveling 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.