Leevale's Derval O'Rourke began the 2006 season as the Irish Indoor 60m hurdle record holder at 8.02 with the hope of qualifying for the final. O'Rourke had reached the semifinals at the World Championships in Helsinki last summer and at the World Indoors in 2003 and European Indoors in 2005.

O'Rourke began the day as the Irish Indoor 60m hurdle record holder at 7.90. O'Rourke, 24, broke her record three times this season already. O'Rourke ended the historic day as the World Indoor Champion breaking her Irish record two more times in the process.

O'Rourke, from Cork, placed second in her opening round race running 7.93. Filled with confidence, she went on to win her semifinal in 7.87 - another Irish record! Before the final, O'Rourke admitted, "I was nervous but everything was okay."

In the final, O'Rourke had a great start and was in second place over the first hurdle.

If she could just hold on for third, it would be the first sprint medal for an Irish woman at a major championship. Midway through the race, she was in the lead and sure to fade thought the well-trained pessimistic Irish fans to themselves. If she could fall to second, it would equal Queen Sonia's silver medal at the 1997 World Indoor Championships in Paris. The hard-working O'Rourke with the infectious smile never faltered and crossed the line in a blanket finish. The Seiko photo timing system would be challenged to sort through this mess. O'Rourke probably knew she won. Sprinters live and die by hundredths of a second and because of this can sense it. But just to be sure, she politely took a seat at the line awaiting the official results and her imminent coronation.

There it was on the scoreboard, Derval O'Rourke of Ireland in first place in a time of 7.84. Only four hundredths of a second separated gold from fourth place but Derval surely knew that.

Just for grins, she set yet another Irish record! If only O'Rourke had one of those sponsorships deals like Russian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka had where he earned thousands of Euros every time he set a record?

She spoke with Bob Ramsak, reporting for the IAFF after the race saying, "It's hard to believe I'm a World champion. I've been working towards it all season and I can't believe it's happened. I was nervous, but everything was okay during the race. I became more confident in every session and I finally understood that I could win."

O'Rourke was awarded a shiny Gold Medal and US$40,000 first prize money.

Click on the links below for photos of Derval O'Rourke's momentous day from the IAAF.

Derval O'Rourke embraces the Tri-Colour

O'Rourke leans to victory at the finish line

O'Rourke hurdling midway through the final

Complete Results for the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships