“She is an amazing athlete, so coachable”
Kate O’Connor delivered Ireland’s third medal of the European Indoor Championships yesterday, with an incredible run in the 800m race of the pentathlon.
The 24-year-old from Newry delivered a personal best to win the race, giving her a points tally of 4781, which broke her national record.
Her father Michael, who is also her coach, spoke to RTÉ’s David Gillick after the win, and delivered an emotional tribute to his daughter.
It was brilliant… it was class! She is an amazing athlete, so coachable; it is a pleasure to be involved with you, you are outstanding and you have given me one of the days of my life. Thank you so much.
Newry-native O’Connor – who is studying communications and PR at Ulster University – revealed that she did not stick to the pre-race plan, which turned out to be a stroke of genius, as she added to Sarah Healy’s gold medal in the 3000m and Mark English’s bronze in the 800m.
She said: “I was preparing my fourth place speech because those girls are good 800m runners and I knew it would take something special.”
“We had a plan and Halfway through the race I said ‘I’m going to run as fast as I flippin’ can.
“All those girls out there are professionals, the top two and the girl who finished below me.
“I am just a little girl studying a Masters, doing athletics on the side so to be able to finish up there with the top girls in Europe and get a bronze medal for my country is unbelievable!”
