O'Connor sets sights on world and Olympic titles after European gold

Irish heptathlete Kate O'Connor, 25, marked her European Championship gold in Birmingham with a double burger — one for each major title she has claimed in the past three weeks. That run of success began with a win for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, and O'Connor, who was born in Newry, said the burger was thoroughly enjoyed down to the last bite.

Despite the celebrations, her focus has already shifted forward. O'Connor is now aiming to go one better than the world championship silver she won behind American Anna Hall, with next year's World Championships taking place in Beijing ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

"I've got two titles to my name now, and the next goal is to get a world title and then an Olympic title. That is ultimately the aim," she said, adding that she sees no reason to hide her ambitions once she knows she has the ability to achieve them. She noted that reaching that level will come down to small margins — points and centimetres across all seven events.

O'Connor now plans to take a couple of weeks away from athletics before sitting down with her father and coach, Michael, to review the season and plan for the years ahead.

Family loss

The summer's triumphs were shadowed by grief, after the recent death of O'Connor's grandmother, Madeleine, to whom she dedicated her European gold medal. O'Connor said her grandmother had been one of her biggest supporters, thrilled by every medal she won, and used to joke that she was no longer known by her own name but simply as "Kate O'Connor's granny."

O'Connor recalled that the period around the World Indoor Championships had been especially difficult for the family, as her father had to split his time between caring for his mother and coaching his daughter. She said her father had been incredible throughout, and that she believes her grandmother, who was immensely proud of her, was watching over her in those final days.