Sarah Lavin has opened up on a difficult few months following the death of her boyfriend Craig Breen.
The Waterford rally driver was killed in a crash in April as he trained for Rally Croatia, with Limerick hurdler Lavin winning a bronze medal at the European Games over the weekend.
Lavin's achievement was all the more remarkable as she ran in Division 3 of the 100m hurdles event, becoming the first athlete to win a race in the third division to medal at the event.
READ MORE: Sarah Lavin pays emotional tribute to late boyfriend Craig Breen after European Games medal win
The 29-year-old clocked a time of 12.82 seconds to finish third behind Poland’s reigning European champion, Pia Skrzyszowska, who clocked a time of 12.77, and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, who came second in 12.81.
France's Laeticia Baptiste clocked Lavin's time of 12.82, but the Irish star's run was incredibly one-thousandth of a second faster.
Lavin was back in Limerick by the time the other divisions finished and she celebrated the success with her parents, but admits Craig was deeply missed following her win, as he is everyday.
She told RTÉ's Sunday Sport: "It's been difficult. Even yesterday (Saturday), the one smile you wanted to see was Craig's, it was so infectious.
"It's hard. Everyday is really difficult and you're just trying to be as strong as you can be because you know that's what he would want.
"He is, I think, giving me strength because I don't know at times how to get through every day.
"His family have been incredible and looking at them and how strong they have been. Everyone misses Craig, his family, his friends and so many fans.
"You're just trying to do your best to do him proud."
She added: "I know how proud he would be because indoors, even after Mickey Mouse competitions, his reaction was always the best, as were his hugs.
"It's just tricky because it's such a happy moment that you've dreamt of your whole life and you wish he was here for it.
"I know he's helping in whatever way he can.
"He lived out his childhood dream and I'm so fortunate that he did because it helps me to want to mirror that."
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