Ireland's rising star and European gold medal winner is set to follow in the footsteps of Rhasidat Adeleke
KELL TALE Ireland rising star and European gold medal winner is set to follow in the footsteps of Rhasidat Adeleke
CONOR Kelly is making a serious career move which has worked out several Irish athletes before him.
Kelly won gold just last week in the Under-20 European Championships, breaking his own national record in the process.
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The 18-year-old made headlines when he won Ireland's only medal of the Championships
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Rhasidat Adeleke appears to have paved the way for emerging Irish talents
He became the ninth Irish athlete to win gold at the Championships, cementing his place as the continent's leading Under-20 400m runner.
But the Finn Valley AC star won't have long to celebrate as he will be moving to Austin, Texas just next week.
Kelly will begin his studies at the University of Texas, where several other promising Irish athletes have also attended.
Most notably Ireland Olympic icon Rhasidat Adeleke raced for the university, winning three NCAA titles.
The Tallaght native won the 4 X 100m relay (2022 and 2023) and the 400m (2023) before graduating in May 2024.
Fellow European Under-20 Championships medalist (2019) Kate O'Connor also studied in the Lone Star State.
The 24-year-old started studying in the University of Texas in 2019 and is now perusing a master's degree in Communication with PR with Ulster University.
O'Connor won gold in the women's heptathlon at the World University Games this year, a Championships Kelly may have his eye on in the next few years.
It's not just Irish track and field stars who have attended the college as Ireland international footballer Éabha O'Mahony donned the burnt orange jersey of the Texas Longhorns.
The former Shelbourne defender played eight games for the college and now plays for FC Miami City in the USLW League.
Inside Sharlene Mawdsley's birthday celebrations as GAA star boyfriend treats her to athletics-themed cake
The success stories of Irish athletes attending the college must have made the decision a lot easier for Kelly.
The London-born sprinter enjoyed the European Under-20 Championships running a 45.83 400m in a comfortable victory.
Speaking after his race to Athletics Ireland, Kelly said: 'I couldn't stop smiling, it was incredible.
"It was amazing to have Amhrán na bhFiann playing, I missed out last year (won a bronze in the European Under-18 Championships) so I had to get it in somewhere.
"It's my last week until I'm off to Texas, so I've got to get my goodbyes in."
Kelly will be looking to make a name for himself at the University of Texas and potentially compete for medals in the NCAA Championships.
Rhasidat Adeleke has set the bar very high for the Derry man with three NCAA titles but Kelly is more than capable to match that, if not exceed it.
When asked about his move to the University of Texas, Kelly replied: "It's big, it's big. I can seriously get to work now."
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