O'Connor: Don't count me out yet

Kate O’Connor continued her 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games journey on Thursday evening, by firstly competing in the women's heptathlon shot put event.

The Dundalk athlete made a strong start at the iconic Stade de France, launching a solid 13.79m throw in the first round. While this was slightly below her personal best of 14.54m, set in 2019, it still positioned her well in the competition.

Building on this momentum, O'Connor delivered a standout performance in the heptathlon's 200m race, setting a season’s best time of 24.77 seconds, just 0.04 seconds shy of her personal record

As the first day of events came to a close, O'Connor found herself in 19th place overall, with a total of 3596 points after the opening four events. Her impressive performances have set a promising tone for the three remaining events in her Olympic campaign on Friday.

After a long and demanding day, the 23-year-old reflected on the highs and lows she experienced. The day was marked by consistent, solid performances that she could take pride in, particularly in the 200m event, which left her feeling especially pleased.

“I would say up and down but everything that has been bad hasn’t actually been that bad. It has been more solid and then I was really happy with those two (200m).

“It’s a season's best and the same with my high jump. Hurdles, I don’t know what happened I haven’t been out in front of a crowd for a year. So, it was more just like I felt stunned almost like a rabbit in the headlights. I was really proud of myself that I managed to pick it up then in the high jump.

“My shot (put) was solid too. I would have liked over 14 but you know that is the thing about multi-events. Everything is up and down so it's just trying to string together a solid performance throughout.”

As the day progressed, O’Connor's confidence grew, especially after achieving a season's best in the 200m. “Coming in here my world ranking was 24 so that can be kind of nerve wrecking because you are thinking am I able to keep up with these girls.

“But again, that is the beauty of multi-events it's not over until it's over and I hope everybody watching at home learns that there is a story with multi-events. It's not just turn up and run once. It is turn up and run, throw, jump, and do everything for two days. So yeah, don’t count me out yet.”

O’Connor was grateful for the strong support she received, both from the enthusiastic Irish crowd and her coaching team. “I’ve got my two coaches, my dad Michael O’Connor and my other coach Tom Reynolds.

“They’ve been a great help, and they sit in the coaching stand giving me advice and that sort of stuff. The crowd has been amazing. It’s a nice wee lift when you see all of the Irish flags around so yeah, I have really, really, enjoyed today.”

When asked about the importance of multi-events in athletics, she expressed her desire to put these disciplines, particularly in Ireland, on the map.

As the first heptathlete to compete for Ireland, she feels a strong sense of responsibility to inspire the next generation. “I think I am the first heptathlete to compete for Ireland. I just really want to put multi-events and field events on the map,” she said.

“I think that it is something that in Ireland everybody could get behind a little bit more. I suppose if you count me as a field eventer, we had three of us here at the Olympics.

“I just really want to put multi-events on the map and get kids at home to do a bit of everything. You don’t have to be amazing at one, you can be great at seven. That’s what I want to do.”

Looking ahead to the Friday's events, the athlete was optimistic and eager to build on her momentum. “We’ve got long jump at 10’clock/9 o’clock Irish time.

“Then javelin which I am really looking forward to I am throwing really well at the moment so I would love to go out there and do a big throw, and then we finish off with the 800m. So, I’ll go home and recover and come back tomorrow for another big day.”

Kate O'Connor day one results: 100m hurdles - 14.08 (967 points), high jump - 1.77 SB (941 points), shot put - 13.79 (780 points), and 200m - 24.77 SB (908 points). Position 19th (3596 points).

Schedule: Friday, 9th August: 9.05 am: Women’s Heptathlon - Long jump; 10.20 am: Women’s Heptathlon - Javelin throw; 7.15 pm: Women’s Heptathlon - 800m.