The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has led the tributes to Olive Loughnane after her silver medal performance in the 20 kilometre walk at the World Championships in Berlin.
Describing it as "tremendous achievement", Mr Cowen said it was a "just reward for her perseverance and commitment to the sport".
He said it was widely acknowledged that the 20km walk was "a particularly difficult" event and one which "requires great courage and stamina. In winning silver Olive has shown these qualities in abundance," he said.
