Chris O’Donnell represented Ireland in the mixed 4×400 metres relay at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At Tokyo 2020, as anchor leg runner, he was part of the first ever Irish team to compete in an Olympic relay final, finishing 8th in a time of 3:15.04 – the mixed 4×400 metres relay making its Olympic debut at those Games. At Paris 2024 the team did not advance from the heats.

O’Donnell grew up primarily as a footballer in Sligo, representing Benbulben FC. He took up sprint training as a teenager to improve his speed on the pitch, and his talent for track quickly became apparent. He was educated at Magh Ene College in Bundoran and went on to study Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University on a sports scholarship.

A five-time Irish national 400m champion, his personal best of 45.26 seconds places him among the fastest Irish 400m runners of all time. He was part of the mixed relay team that won gold at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome – Ireland’s first relay gold at a major championship – running the opening leg.