Sam Magee has reflected on his bronze-medal success at the European Games with great pride, having initially been told that he was unfit to take part in the competition.
The 25-year-old, who alongside teammate Chloe Magee was representing Ireland in Baku, fell just short of a place in the gold-medal final by losing this morning's last-four clash to French pair Gaetan Mittelhessen and Audrey Fontaine.
However, an injury picked up earlier this month very nearly curtailed Magee's involvement at the inaugural Games, meaning that claiming a podium finish is far more than he initially anticipated despite his top seeding.
"On Wednesday's last session [before Baku] I injured my back," he told reporters. "The doctor told me that I had to pull out, but the team said to come just to see what I can do. I had no expectations at all.
"A week ago I couldn't bend my back forward. I had physio three times a day. I had given up on the dream of winning a medal, so I'm over the moon. But once you get that close [to gold], you want more."
Magee also won bronze in the men's doubles alongside Joshua Magee earlier this week.
Daniel Lewis
