Melissa Bishop's family celebrates world track medal in Eganville

As Melissa Bishop lined up at her starting block in Beijing for the women's 800-metre run, her family back in Eganville, Ont., crowded around the television with mimosas in hand to watch the 27-year-old athlete compete at the world track and field championships.

"My heart was pounding," her mother, Alison Bishop, told CBC News. "I thought, 'Oh, Melissa, get up there. Get up there to the front."

She watched with a group of family and friends as her daughter won silver with a time of 1:58.12.

"We were yelling and screaming and jumping up and down. Everyone was hugging, kissing," she said. "It's pretty exciting. It's darn exciting. We're just so proud of her. She's worked very, very hard."

"Inside, we're just bursting," Melissa's father, Doug Bishop, said.

Melissa grew up in Eganville, about 135 kilometres west of Ottawa, and is a former member of the University of Windsor track team.

During the semifinal on Thursday, Melissa Bishop broke Diane Cummins' Canadian record for the 800m with a time of 1:57.52.

In July, Bishop won the gold medal in the women's 800m at the Toronto-hosted Pan Am Games.

Wins come after difficult year

Her family said that she was unable to train for seven weeks earlier this year due to a sports hernia, and later for another four weeks after rolling her ankle. Her family also said she mourned the death of a cousin killed in a car accident when she was training in the U.S. this past spring.

"It's been such a long road for Melissa. She's been through so many ups and downs," her father said.

"Just knowing that she had that spirit to keep on pushing no matter what — I guess that's the part that makes me the happiest."

"She deserves this," her mother said.

Now her grandmother Tory Hawkins said she has once more wish for Melissa.

"Should I say? Grandbabies. Great-grandbabies," she said. "I want grandbabies to live close to Grandma."