"He found the extra per cent beyond the 100," is how team manager Colin White described Tony's late surge to overtake a German athlete on the home straight.

In so doing, Tony brought himself into the Bronze medal position. The large Irish contingent cheered him to the echo as he fought heroically to catch, and then pass, the strong German runner.

"I thought I was nearly gone, but I just found something to keep me going. It was a very tough race. The Argentinian Juan Pablo Juarez, who is an old rival of mine, led it out at a blistering pace and there was just no let-up," said Tony.

Tony's brave run brought to an end the best-ever World Transplant Games for an Irish team.

Listen to Tony speaking after he won his silver medal in the 1500m and as he prepared for his upcoming events

This morning, Tony also won a Bronze medal in the 5km Walk. Emma Walsh added a Silver in the 200m to the Bronze she won in the 100m yesterday.

Marie O'Connor won brilliantly to hold onto the Silver medal in the 200m under extreme pressure. "It was tough going but I wouldn't give in - but I'm tired now," she said.

James Nolan was looking good for a medal in the 200m but pulled a muscle on the bend. He battled on, but was just beaten into fourth place. "I'm still as happy as could be after my Bronze in the 400m," said James, "and we will party tonight to celebrate the team's achivements."

Yesterday, Monica Finn was on course for a medal in the 100m but suffered a bad hamstring tear in the closing stages.