Kate O'Connor (athlete)
Irish athlete (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Katherine O'Connor (born 12 December 2000)[2] is an Irish track and field athlete who competes in the heptathlon and indoor pentathlon for Ireland and Northern Ireland. O'Connor is the Irish record holder for heptathlon and indoor pentathlon.
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O'Connor in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 12 December 2000 |
| Home town | Dundalk |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Ireland Northern Ireland |
| Sport | Track and field |
Events | Heptathlon, indoor pentathlon |
| Club | Dundalk St Gerard's |
| Coached by | Michael O'Connor |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | Heptathlon: 6714 pts NR Indoor pentathlon: 4839 pts NR[2] |
Medal record | |
A European medalist for Ireland at the under-20 age-grade level in 2019, she came to senior prominence by winning a silver medal in the heptathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, representing Northern Ireland.
In 2025 she achieved a breakthrough year, winning four senior international medals across the indoor and outdoor season. She won a bronze medal in the Pentathlon at the 2025 European Indoor Championships, setting a new national record, and a silver at the World Indoor Championships a few weeks later.[3] In the summer, she took gold in the 2025 World University Games, the Universiade in heptathlon. In September 2025, O'Connor won a Heptathlon silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Career
O'Connor has been coached since childhood by her father Michael.[4]
Aged 17, O'Connor competed for Northern Ireland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, finishing eighth in the heptathlon.[5]
She won a silver in the heptathlon at the 2019 European Athletics U20 Championships in Borås, Sweden.[6][7]
O'Connor won a silver medal competing in the heptathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, her first senior medal, behind Katarina Johnson-Thompson.[8]
She qualified for the heptathlon at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, finishing in 13th place.[9]
O'Connor became the first Irish heptathlete to compete at an Olympics[10] when she finished 14th at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[11][12]
She set a new Irish indoor pentathlon record of 4,683 points at the Tallinn Combined Events meeting in Estonia in February 2025.[13]
O'Connor won a bronze medal in the pentathlon at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships after winning the 800m race, setting 4 new personal bests in the long jump, high jump, 60m hurdles and in the 800m.[14]
She claimed a silver medal in the pentathlon at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.[15][3]
She became World University Games champion in 2025.[16]
O'Connor won a silver medal in the heptathlon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, setting a new national record of 6,714 points in the process and registering five personal bests across the seven events.[17][18]
In March 2026, O'Connor won a bronze medal in the pentathlon at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in a new Irish record score of 4839 points.[19]
Personal life
O'Connor began studying at Sheffield Hallam University in 2019 and graduated in 2022 with a degree in sport development with coaching.[20] O'Connor completed a master's degree in Communication and Public Relations at Ulster University in 2025 and graduated in Belfast in December 2025.[21][22][23]
Although raised in Dundalk and a member of Saint Gerard's Athletic Club, O'Connor was born in the nearby city of Newry, in County Down, Northern Ireland. She is eligible to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games.[24]
Personal bests
| Event | Record | Points | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60m Hurdles | 8.21 | 1113 | 20 February 2026 |
| Long Jump | 6.50m | 1108 | 1 March 2026 |
| 800m (indoor) | 2:10.26 | 961 | 22 March 2026 |
| 200m (indoor) | 25.06 | 987 | 17 February 2018 |
| Pentathlon | 4839 NR | 22 March 2026 | |
| 100m Hurdles | 13.44 | 1108 | 19 September 2025 |
| High Jump | 1.86m | 1082 | 19 September 2025 |
| 200m | 24.07 | 1029 | 19 September 2025 |
| 800m | 2:09.56 | 997 | 20 September 2025 |
| Javelin | 53.06m | 950 | 20 September 2025 |
| Shot Put | 14.70m | 841 | 22 March 2026 |
| Heptathlon | 6714 NR | 20 September 2025 |
