She had poured her personality all over the stadium the previous evening and now she was back in the spotlight again, taking the plaudits and enjoying every second of it as she was crowned one of Europe's elite hurdlers. She refrained from doing any jigs on this occasion but the smile was as broad as it was the previous night when she ran that stunning 12.72 seconds Irish record in tieing for second place with the powerful German, Kirsten Bolm O'Rourke was first to be called for her precious piece of silver, followed by Bolm, and the pair adjusted themselves on a space on the rostrum reserved for one before being joined at the top by the immaculate gold medallist, Susanne Kallur.

Then the crowd rose in respect to the singing of the Swedish National Anthem before the ceremony ended with cheers and O'Rourke breaking rank to pose in front of the stand for a group of photographers that included a few Irish supporters. Later O'Rourke said how there had been a mix-up in the identity of the two silver medals she getting the one for Bolm and visa versa. "We worked it out easily enough because our names and times (identical) are inscribed and I suppose it was a bit of a laugh, " said O'Rourke who seemed to be wearing the same broad smile as that when she left the stadium very late on Friday night.

Clearly O'Rourke was thrilled by the whole experience here but more especially by the way she performed.

"To be honest a couple of months ago I did not think I would make it here at all with the injury and that was one of the most frustrating times of my whole career, " she said.

"When I ran in Cork City Sports on 1 July I only had three hurdle sessions behind me. I was not ready to run there but I suppose I felt obliged to support the home meeting. Things got better in later weeks but I still missed out in many races.

"I was due to start my summer season on 29 May but cancelled that which was very upsetting to my plans. So it was a rushed preparation for the season and to come here and run 12.72 was just brilliant and gives me great confidence for the future.

"Next year I want to make the World Championship final in Japan but first I want to get some more fast times behind me and doing what I've done here in the last couple of days just gives me more and more confidence for the future.