Vanessa Wallace has won the F34 shot put to gain her first major international gold medal. She threw 7.45m to give her gold over home favourite, Marie Braemer-Skowronek.

A delighted Wallace said:

“I don’t even know what words can sum this up. It is amazing, that is the best way to put it. I was here two years ago at my first Europeans and I came fourth. To come back stronger, a lot more experienced and, yeah, I did my thing. I trusted the process and just did the best I could.

I’ve learnt to relax and focus on my little zone and tell myself you do know what to do. I don’t get distracted by the other competitors, what they are doing, what they are throwing, I just do me because that’s what’s got me here.

She added:

“My coach [Alison O’Riordan] has been amazing coach. She has been everything that a coach is supposed to be. A support network, encouraging, putting you in and out of your comfort zone and more importantly giving you trust in yourself. Your coach will do as much as they can, but you have got to pick that up and run or throw or jump with it. She has changed my life.”

Congratulations Vanessa.