Mark English has won gold for Ireland in the 800 metres at the European Championships in Birmingham.

He becomes the first Irish man in history to win a European Championships gold medal.

At 33 years of age, the qualified doctor from Donegal was the oldest in the field.

Speaking at the end of the race, English told RTÉ: "I can't sum it up. I think I'm relieved more than anything. I really wanted a gold medal today."

In a race where he was always close to the front, English ran 1:45.26, beating Croatia’s Marino Bloudek in second and Mohamed Attaoui in third.

The victory came a day after English produced a remarkable performance in his semi-final, smashing a championship record that had stood for 48 years.

His 1:43.49 took over half a second off the championship record, which had stood to Olaf Beyer from East Germany since 1978.

“I’m confident no matter how it goes,” English said after the semi-final win.

“I just have to trust myself, my own abilities. And I’ve practised a couple of things in training, so I know what I’m capable of. I had a lot left in the last 100m, so that always bodes well.

“My self-belief has always been there. I’ve just worked on a few things over the last year to get myself physiologically in the condition to be able to do what I did today. I think that’s the main difference, as well as building up experience race-wise. But I think physiologically I’m just in a better place this year.”

Just before the race, it was confirmed that Britain’s Max Burgin had withdrawn from the 800m, after picking up an injury in the warm-up.