Kate O’Connor
Athletics
BIOGRAPHY
Kate O’Connor made history at Paris 2024 by becoming Ireland’s first Olympic heptathlete and only the second female athletics multi-eventer after Margaret Murphy’s 1972 pentathlon. Kate finished 14th overall, improving from her 23rd place ranking.
Her international career began with a European Junior (U20) silver medal in 2019 at age 18, where she became the first Irish woman to surpass 6000 heptathlon points. She earned a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and placed 13th at her 2023 World Championship debut.
In March 2025, Kate O’Connor won a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships in the Netherlands.
She went one better at the World Championships two weeks later, winning silver and recording a series of personal bests along the way. The medal was Ireland’s first at an indoor World Champs in almost 20 years since Derval O’Rourke 60m hurdles gold in 2006.
Kate is pursuing her academic career alongside athletics. She holds a degree from Sheffield Hallam University and is working toward a Master’s in Communications and PR at Ulster University.
OTHER ATHLETICS ATHLETES
ATHLETICS NEWS
In The News – June 16th
Men’s Hockey | Ireland Edge Belgium in FIH Pro League Thriller Ireland secured a stunning 3–2 victory over world-ranked #2 Belgium in Antwerp - their first win of the 2024/25 FIH Pro League season. Louis Rowe opened the scoring; Lee Cole struck twice with penalty corners. Jaime Carr delivered a Player of the Match performance, [...]
In The News – May 26th
Team Ireland Round-Up | Medals, Records, and Milestones Across Europe and the U.S. ATHLETICS | Gidey’s Breakthrough, Healy Shines, English and Coscoran Impress Efrem Gidey made history on Saturday evening in Pacé, France, becoming the first Irish athlete to win individual gold at the European 10,000m Cup. The 24-year-old surged ahead with just over [...]
In The News – May 12th
Equestrian: Austin O'Connor Achieves Podium Finish at Badminton Horse Trials Four time Olympian Austin O'Connor delivered one of his finest performances to date at the prestigious 2025 Badminton Horse Trials, finishing third overall aboard his long-time partner Colorado Blue. After a modest start in the dressage phase, where he placed 20th, O'Connor surged through the [...]
Sarah Healy reflects on the milestone moment of winning her first senior medal
SARAH Healy is not remotely prone to hubris or hyperbole so when she describes winning 3000m gold at this year’s European Indoor Championships as a ‘milestone’ it is clear just how pivotal a moment it was. The double European youth champion (2018) and European Junior and U23 silver medallist continued to lower her PBs and [...]
ATHLETICS IRELAND ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS
Paris 2024 Olympic Finalists in Women's 4 x 400m to travel Athletics Ireland have announced a 14-strong team ahead of the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China on Saturday May 10th and Sunday May 11th. Women’s, men’s and mixed 4x400m relay teams will travel to the championships aiming to seal all-important qualification for [...]
Team Ireland Weekend Highlights, April 12–13, 2025
From Augusta to Dublin, Belgium to the Basque Country, Irish athletes produced standout performances across a range of Olympic sports this weekend. Rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam Rory McIlroy delivered a defining moment for Irish sport this weekend, winning the 2025 Masters Tournament and becoming just the sixth golfer in history — and [...]