O'Connor 'ecstatic' with unexpected European bronze
Ireland's Kate O'Connor admits she "wasn't expecting" to win a pentathlon bronze medal but is "ecstatic" with her performance at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.O'Connor produced a superb run to win the 800 metres and beat Great Britain's Jade O'Dowda to bronze in the final event in Apeldoorn.The 24-year-old had previously set personal bests in the 60 metre hurdles, high jump and long jump, as well as a strong performance in the shot put, to move into medal contention."Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get a medal but I'm buzzing that I did," said O'Connor."My plan was to go out and run as hard as I could. I really wanted a medal and I'm ecstatic that I managed to get it."
Despite her strong performance in the Netherlands, O'Connor was still outside the medal placings heading into the 800 metres.. The Newry-born athlete, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland in 2022, put in a storming run to win the race and edge O'Dowda to third place overall. O'Dowda is a former training partner of O'Connor, who said they had a conversation before the 800m that they would be "friends no matter what happens".O'Connor set a new Irish record of 4781, surpassing her own tally by 98 points, as she won bronze behind Finland's Saga Vanninen (4922) and Dutch athlete Sofie Doktor (4826)."To be honest, no," O'Connor said when asked if she expected to win a medal. "After the long jump I was a little upset. I had done four world class performances and was still trailing. I knew all those girls had great 800s. "I had a plan to go out and run as hard as I could and try not to be disappointed with myself."It was insane. Four girls with those kinds of scores are unbelievable. So to be part of that is amazing, to be part of the medals is even better."I hope we push each other on. The world championships are coming up soon so we'll see what happens at them."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
First rugby league player in sport's 130 year history to receive knighthood
Rugby League hero Billy Boston, now 90, will be given the honour at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, ending the sport's 130-year wait Rugby League hero Billy Boston is set to become the sports first-ever knight at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The honour for the Cardiff-born Wigan player will end Rugby League's 130-year wait for the honour. Now aged 90, Boston was a trailblazer for black sports stars when he played for Wigan and Great Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. The honour follows a campaign by his MP and councillors for him to be recognised as well as a campaign calling for the sports' first knighthood. Sir Billy's wife Joan said: 'Billy's family are so proud of him and so excited that everything he's done for the sport and for our community is being recognised. He is a wonderful person who has always loved rugby league and all of the people involved in the sport.' Sir Billy scored a huge 571 tries in a career that ended at the age of 36. He was awarded the MBE in 1996, and was one of the first inductees in the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 1998, joining the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame the following year. He received the freedom of Wigan in 2000 and is immortalised in three statues, in Wigan, Wales and at Wembley. Tony Sutton, the Chief Executive of the RFL, said: 'On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of Rugby League, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Billy Boston on his knighthood. 'Sir Billy deserves to be recognised as an iconic figure in the history of British sport, for the way he overcame prejudice in his journey from working-class Cardiff to legendary status in Wigan, and became the most prolific British try-scorer in the 130-year history of Rugby League.' There has been growing frustration over the lack of Rugby League honours, with a group of cross-party MPS suggesting it was down to snobbery. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'The first knighthood for a rugby league player is long-overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life. "This is the moment we right a historic wrong,' she said.
Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts working to tie up two transfer targets - both men will cost a fee
Busy summer window for new signings ahead of season 2025/26 Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts officials are working to finalise at least two more new signings before the first-team squad report to Riccarton for pre-season training. With players due back on 20 June, moves are afoot to recruit another striker and a centre-back. Four players have already agreed deals at Tynecastle Park ahead of the new season - Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexanderos Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee. The Edinburgh News can reveal detailed talks have taken place between Hearts and the Oxford United defender Stuart Findlay. A Scotland international centre-back, Findlay played on loan at Kilmarnock for the last two seasons under Derek McInnes - who has since taken charge in Gorgie and wants the player with him. All parties are willing for the move to happen, although negotiations are still ongoing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Findlay, 29, made 23 appearances for Kilmarnock last season despite being sidelined for five months with an ankle injury. He is a left-footed central defender previously on the books at Celtic, Newcastle United and Philadelphia Union. Capped by Scotland in 2019, he is a player McInnes knows and trusts. Finances for the deal are still being discussed and talks have been encouraging so far. A six-figure transfer fee is required to release Findlay from his Oxford contract, which runs until summer 2026. Hearts are also progressing towards a deal for the Portuguese striker Claudio Braga. He will cost in excess of £400,000 from the Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund FK. A 25-year-old strong and mobile striker, Braga's contract in Norway runs until December 2026. He is seen as a versatile forward who would bring different attributes to the Tynecastle attack next season. Lawrence Shankland's Hearts future and West Brom transfer interest Aalesund are eight games into their 2025 league campaign and are reluctant to lose Braga right now. Hearts want him as soon as possible to integrate him into McInnes' new-look squad for season 2025/26. The Edinburgh News revealed last month that a new striker was one of the club's priorities during the summer transfer window. That remains the case regardless of where captain Lawrence Shankland's future lies. The Scotland internationalist was on honeymoon recently after marrying his long-term fiancé, Nicole, and is due to decide his next move. His Hearts contract expires this week and English clubs West Bromwich Albion and Southampton are interested in taking him south of the border. The terms they can offer exceed the deal Hearts put to Shankland last month and the player must now make a final decision on whether he will leave Edinburgh. He was also monitored by Rangers last season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another Tynecastle transfer target is Daniel Arzani, the Australian international winger who is out of contract and pondering whether to leave Melbourne Victory. He has interest from Hearts, plus other clubs in Europe, Asia and Australia. He intends to take time over his next career move having previously experienced British football at Manchester City and Celtic. Talks regarding a quick summer transfer for the Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov are still ongoing. Hearts are hopeful he will be their player in the near future as they want to avoid a pre-contract agreement for him to arrive in November - and be unable to register until January. In addition to the incomings above, there will be several players leaving Hearts in the weeks to come. Winger Barrie McKay and midfielder Jorge Grant left when their contracts expired at the end of the season. Others will be moved on to trim the size of the first-team pool at Riccarton.
Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts working to tie up two transfer targets - both will cost a fee
Busy summer window for new signings ahead of season 2025/26 Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts officials are working to finalise at least two more new signings before the first-team squad report to Riccarton for pre-season training. With players due back on 20 June, moves are afoot to recruit another striker and a centre-back. Four players have already agreed deals at Tynecastle Park ahead of the new season - Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexanderos Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee. The Edinburgh News can reveal detailed talks have taken place between Hearts and the Oxford United defender Stuart Findlay. A Scotland international centre-back, Findlay played on loan at Kilmarnock for the last two seasons under Derek McInnes - who has since taken charge in Gorgie and wants the player with him. All parties are willing for the move to happen, although negotiations are still ongoing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Findlay, 29, made 23 appearances for Kilmarnock last season despite being sidelined for five months with an ankle injury. He is a left-footed central defender previously on the books at Celtic, Newcastle United and Philadelphia Union. Capped by Scotland in 2019, he is a player McInnes knows and trusts. Finances for the deal are still being discussed and talks have been encouraging so far. A six-figure transfer fee is required to release Findlay from his Oxford contract, which runs until summer 2026. Hearts are also progressing towards a deal for the Portuguese striker Claudio Braga. He will cost in excess of £400,000 from the Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund FK. A 25-year-old strong and mobile striker, Braga's contract in Norway runs until December 2026. He is seen as a versatile forward who would bring different attributes to the Tynecastle attack next season. Lawrence Shankland's Hearts future and West Brom transfer interest Aalesund are eight games into their 2025 league campaign and are reluctant to lose Braga right now. Hearts want him as soon as possible to integrate him into McInnes' new-look squad for season 2025/26. The Edinburgh News revealed last month that a new striker was one of the club's priorities during the summer transfer window. That remains the case regardless of where captain Lawrence Shankland's future lies. The Scotland internationalist was on honeymoon recently after marrying his long-term fiancé, Nicole, and is due to decide his next move. His Hearts contract expires this week and English clubs West Bromwich Albion and Southampton are interested in taking him south of the border. The terms they can offer exceed the deal Hearts put to Shankland last month and the player must now make a final decision on whether he will leave Edinburgh. He was also monitored by Rangers last season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another Tynecastle transfer target is Daniel Arzani, the Australian international winger who is out of contract and pondering whether to leave Melbourne Victory. He has interest from Hearts, plus other clubs in Europe, Asia and Australia. He intends to take time over his next career move having previously experienced British football at Manchester City and Celtic.
