Exeter Harriers athlete Jo Pavey has become the oldest ever female European champion, after a stunning victory for Great Britain last night.
The 40-year-old, who won Commonwealth Games bronze over 5,000m less than two weeks ago, took the lead going into the final lap and held off her challengers to win in 32mins 22.39secs.
She moved up through the field with four laps to go and was in third place going into the final 800m.
The leading four athletes were clear of the field with 600m to go when Pavey kicked for home.
She had a great battle in the final 400m but held on to her lead and pulled clear in the home straight to take the gold medal.
That made her the oldest woman to win gold at the European Championships.
And she was inspired towards her greatest victory by the presence of both her children - the youngest one being just 11 months old - in the Zurich crowd.
The runner, whose daughter Emily was born only last year, won gold in the women's 10,000 metres at the opening night of the European Championships in Zurich.
It comes just 10 days after the four-time Olympian claimed won bronze in the 5,000m at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Pavey, who turns 41 next month, replaces Irina Khabarova – part of Russia's triumphant 4x100m relay team in 2006 at the age of 40 years and 27 days – as the oldest ever female European gold medallist.
Speaking after crossing the line in 32 minutes and 22.39 seconds, Pavey told the BBC: "I can't believe it. I am just thrilled.
"I was finding it quite a long way, I thought it was the wrong event at one point."
As if her performance was not remarkable enough, Pavey only gave birth to her daughter 11 months ago, with baby Emily and son Jacob both in Zurich to witness their mum's moment of glory.
"It was really emotional to have my daughter Emily watch me for the first time," she said. "We thought she might be scared, but decided to gamble it.
"To try for so many years and to finally do it at the age of 40 is funny really. I should have learned how it do it by now."
The Devon athlete's winning performance was one better than her last appearance at the 2012 European Championships when she took a silver medal from Helsinki.
