Vote for Dundalk's Kate and Michael O'Connor at 2026 Olympic Sport Awards
Dundalk athlete Kate O'Connor and her father and coach Michael are nominated for Female Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively, with public voting open until 15th November following Kate's three major international medals in 2026.
VOTE HERE: https://olympicsportawards.com/vote/
Dundalk's Kate O'Connor and her father, Michael, are seeking public support after both were nominated for the 2026 Olympic Sport Awards.
Kate is nominated for Female Athlete of the Year. At the same time, Michael is shortlisted for Coach of the Year; the nominations come after another successful year for Kate, who won three medals at major international championships in 2026.
Kate won gold in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, finishing with 6,751 points.
Although her score was higher than her previous Irish record, it could not count as a new national record because of wind readings during the competition.
She also won heptathlon gold for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she secured two major titles in less than three weeks.
Earlier in the year, the 25-year-old claimed bronze in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Poland, where she set a new Irish record of 4,839 points.
Her results mean she has now won medals at seven consecutive major championships, including her silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Kate is up against swimmer Ellen Walshe, rower Fiona Murtagh and cyclist Lara Gillespie for the Female Athlete of the Year award.
Her father, Michael, has also been recognised for his work as her coach, with more than 20 years of experience coaching combined events, and has played an important role in Kate's success.
He also received the World Athletics Coaching Achievement Award in November 2025 in recognition of his contribution to athletics and is nominated alongside swimming coach Brian Sweeney and rowing coach Denise Walsh for Coach of the Year.
Kate also features in another category at this year's awards, with photographer Sam Barnes nominated for Image of the Year for a photograph of her competing in the high jump.
Members of the public can vote for Kate and Michael through the official Olympic Sport Awards website, where the public need to select their chosen nominee, enter their email address and submit their vote.
Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, 15th November, and the winners will be announced at the Olympic Sport Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Saturday, 28th November.
To vote for Kate and Michael O'Connor, visit: https://olympicsportawards.com/vote/