Inside Track: Commonwealth gold for one of Dundalk’s own
Inside Track with Joe Carroll
Poor Kate O’Connor, everyone is laying a claim to her. Depending on the paper you read or the radio or television station you tune into, the star heptathlete is either from Newry or Dundalk.
There is a writer who just about gets it just about right. “The Newry-born Dundalk girl”, it said in the Irish News.
Having come into the world in Daisy Hill hospital, the 25-year-old is eligible to compete for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games, and in all other international competitions for Ireland with the Tricolour on her singlet.
It’s the same with Olympic gold medallists, swimmer Daniel Wiffen and gymnast Ryan McCleneghan, the only difference being, both were born and still live on the other side of the Border.
Boxers have availed of the same dual citizenship – if we can put it like that – down through the years. And there’s Dundalk, Amy Broadhurst, who boxed for Ireland, but because her father, Tony, was born in London, she was able compete for a place on the Great Britain team travelling to the 2024 Olympics.
All of that aside, the important thing is, Kate O’Connor continues to make progress on the road she hopes will take her to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She was favourite to take gold at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and delivered in spades.
In winning the top prize in her third time competing at the Games, the St Gerard’s athlete had to overcome a difficult start to the gruelling seven-discipline event decided over two days.
She was below her best in the shot put, but after that excelled, edging out her long-time adversary, Jade O’Dowda.
O’Dowda, who was competing for England, is a sister of Republic of Ireland footballer, Callum, and grand-daughter of the Dundalk-born tenor of international renown, Brendan O’Dowda.
Next up for O’Connor are the European Championships, taking place in Birmingham next week, August 10th to 16th. She goes there in peak condition.