Kerry O’Flaherty represented Ireland in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing 14th in her heat with a time of 9:45.35.

She was 35 years old at the time of her Olympic debut, having taken one of the most unconventional routes to the Games of any Irish athlete. O’Flaherty was a competitive runner in her youth but gave up athletics during her college years at the University of Ulster, where she studied sports science and physical education. In the years that followed she worked as a supply teacher, as the first female development officer for the Irish Football Association, and as a development officer for Athletics Northern Ireland.

Redundancy prompted her to return to competitive athletics in 2009 at the age of 28. She transitioned to the steeplechase at 30, having previously competed in the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres. She qualified for Rio 2016 after reaching the final of the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 2016 European Championships, where she finished 12th. She competes for Newcastle AC in Co. Down.