"I'm still riding this insane wave" says Dundalk star O'Connor

Kate O’Connor rounded off an extraordinary season by being named Athlete of the Year,  and Field & Multi Event Athlete of the Year at the 123.ie National Athletics Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry on Wednesday.

The Dundalk St Gerard’s AC star stood tallest among a stellar field after a campaign that delivered silver in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Tokyo, gold at the World University Games, and podium finishes at both the World and European Indoor Championships.

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In a year where she twice pushed her own national heptathlon and pentathlon records into new territory, O’Connor finished as Europe’s top-ranked multi-eventer and the world’s number two.

Her sensational season also earned her the Field & Multi Event Athlete of the Year award, ahead of tough competition that included Diarmuid O’Connor (Bandon AC), Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrock AC), Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock AC), and Reece Ademola (Leevale AC).

Speaking with Athletics Ireland, O’Connor said: “It's been an absolutely insane year. To win four major medals is something that I just could have never dreamt of at the start of the year, and to break the barriers that I've broken as well.

“It's going to be hard to top in the future, but I'm looking forward to hopefully progressing on further.”

Her rise has been marked by versatility, mastering both the indoor pentathlon and the outdoor heptathlon with equal command.

“I used to just consider myself as a heptathlete, and pentathlon was something that I could do if I was ready at indoors. But generally, I've mainly focused on getting ready for outdoors, where now I'm kind of pretty okay at both.

“So, no, it's exciting. It's great to be competing up against the top girls in the world, and obviously representing Ireland as well as I possibly can.”

Her national record-breaking display in Tokyo, which secured a superb silver medal, stands as one of the defining Irish sporting achievements of the year.

“Somewhat, yeah. I mean, I'm still riding this insane wave. Nobody can really prepare you for what happens after winning a medal like that.

“But in a way, maybe it's just the athlete in me. I've almost parked it, and I'm ready to move on to the next thing. We've started back into our training for our next season, and yeah, I'm just really looking forward to pushing on.

“But obviously, every time I think of it, I go back online and watch some of the videos, and I actually sometimes look, and I'm like, how did you do that? Because, yeah, it was insane, and there was a lot of pressure, but yeah, incredible memories.”

Tokyo may be the headline, but O’Connor reserves affection for the earlier competitions of her season.

“Well, yeah, of course, but something that was really, really close was that European indoor medal. I fought so hard for that, and it was my first major senior medal.

“And to do it under such pressure, I learned so much about myself, and I think that competition set me up for the year to win all the other medals that I did. So, yeah, all the medals hold a special place in my heart.”

As the calendar edges towards its close, her attention has already shifted to what lies ahead.

Next season brings a packed and unforgiving schedule, such as World Indoors, Commonwealth Games, and the European Championships, each demanding a new level. O’Connor, however, seems more energised by the prospect.

“Yeah, definitely, and it comes at you thick and fast, like we're almost at Christmas. So, yeah, but I'm looking forward to next year and going out and seeing what I can do.”

The event’s sponsors and leaders spoke with pride about the momentum building across Irish athletics.

Gavin Macklin, Director of 123.ie, said: “As a proud sponsor of Athletics Ireland, we at 123.ie are thrilled to share a mutual passion for this sport and to be part of driving the future of Irish athletics. Our partnership with Athletics Ireland reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering athletes at every level.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and our contract extension with Athletics Ireland to 2030 showcases our commitment to supporting the great work being done by the athletics community throughout Ireland.

“We thank the team at Athletics Ireland and the wider volunteer base for the tremendous work they put in to promote and grow athletics across the country.

“We look forward to the upcoming championships over the coming weeks, and to what promises to be another exciting year in 2026.”

Athletics Ireland CEO Hamish Adams added: “The 123.ie National Athletics Awards provide an important opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our athletes and the organisation over the past year.

“They also allow us to express our gratitude to the members, coaches, officials, and clubs whose dedication and commitment are fundamental to the success of our sport.

“2025 has been a landmark year for Athletics Ireland, highlighted by a record 75,078 registered members. We look forward to building on these accomplishments as we prepare for an exciting and ambitious 2026 and beyond.”

President of Athletics Ireland Brid Golden echoed the sentiment: “This has been an exceptional year for Irish athletics, culminating in an amazing haul of medals across the international stage – from U18, U20, U23 championships right up to Senior and Masters levels.

“We are delighted to celebrate our athletes’ achievements at our National Awards and to express our gratitude to the coaches, clubs, volunteers, and long-serving members of our athletics community. Their dedication and commitment are vital to the continued promotion, growth and success of our sport.”

123.ie National Athletics Award Winners 2025

Hall of Fame: Derval O’Rourke; Athlete of the Year: Kate O’Connor; Lifetime Services to Athletics: Cyril Smyth; Endurance Athlete of the Year: Fionnuala McCormack; Under 20 Athlete of the Year: Conor Kelly; Under 23 Athlete of the Year: Nicola Tuthill; Track Athlete of the Year: Cian McPhillips; Field & Multi Event Athlete of the Year: Kate O’Connor.

Team of the Year: Men’s 4x100m Relay; Inspirational Performance on Irish Soil: Cian McPhillips (Morton Games); Special Recognition Award: Dick Hooper; Performance Club of the Year: Dundrum South Dublin AC.

Services to Coaching: Joe Doonan; Official of the Year: Declan Curtin; Development Club of the Year: Moy Valley AC; Mountain Runner of the Year: Brian Mullins; Masters Athlete of the Year: Edel Maguire; Ultra Runner of the Year: Caitriona Jennings; Schools’ Athlete of the Year: Sean Doggett; and University Athlete of the Year: Laura Frawley.