Kate O'Connor has won a gold medal in the women's heptathlon at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
The Dundalk athlete amassed a total of 6487, breaking her own national record of 6297 she set back in 2021.
O'Connor began the final day of action in a strong position, this after setting a new personal best time of 24.33 in the 200m on Wednesday. A mark of 6.15m in the long jump was followed by a throw of 51.87 in the javelin. The final event, the 800m, saw her achieve a PB of 2:10.46 in finishing second. That outcome more than guaranteed her place at the head of the field.
O'Connor's new mark leaves her fourth in the world this year as she finished well ahead of silver medallist Szabina Szucs (6081) of Hungary and Emilia Surch of Australia (6068), who took bronze.
🗣️ "I've finally got a gold, it’s a great way to start my outdoor season."
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 24, 2025
Hear from World University Games Heptathlon Champion, Kate O’Connor! 🥇☘️
🎤 @StudentSportIrl #IrishAthletics #RhineRuhr2025
pic.twitter.com/xjJK6cLPS0
This latest success continues a stellar year so far for the 24-year-old, who won bronze at the European Indoors in the Netherlands before winning a World Indoor silver in China.
Speaking afterwards to Student Sport Ireland, a delighted O'Connor said: "I've finally got a gold, it’s a great way to start my outdoor season. I’d quite a few highs there but also quite a few lows, so I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks, trying to improve some things and really have them right going into [the World Outdoors] Tokyo.
"I'm in the shape of my life at the moment, to come here and do it on the world stage, I'm really happy with that."
