Kate O’Connor became just the third Irish athlete to claim multiple World Indoor championships medals, immediately setting her focus on the future.
The Dundalk athlete took pentathlon bronze, following up on the silver medal she won in Nanjing, China, last year.
“I came here with very high expectations and although I maybe didn’t meet them, I’m coming away a world bronze medallist and I really can’t complain with that” explained O’Connor.
“I think it’s probably a good thing that I am walking away thinking I could do a little better, but ultimately I’m delighted”.
However, the 25-year-old immediately turned her attention to the summer months and the outdoor season.
“My plan is to do the Commonwealth Games and European Championships” explained O’Connor. “I’ll open at the Commonwealths, and then the Europeans are the main aim for me”.
“I want to try and win gold” O’Connor declared. “It’s going to be a tough competition, but if you don’t go in with the mindset to win gold; you’re never going to do it. I’m going to work really hard for the next four or five months and put myself in the position to win that gold.”
This result continues a remarkable run of success at major championships for O’Connor.
In 2025, O’Connor claimed European Indoor Championships bronze, World Indoor Championships silver, World University Games gold and World Championships silver.
O’Connor joins Frank O’Meara and Marcus O’Sullivan as two time medal winners at the World indoor championships.
Whereas, only two Irish athletes, Sonia O'Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, have now won more individual global medals at senior championships.
O’Connor now turns attention to the outdoor season and the Commonwealth games in Glasgow between July 23 and August second.
The European Championships take place in Birmingham from August 10–16.
