Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s AC) has won bronze for Ireland at the World Indoor Championships in Poland this evening, setting a new national record of 4,839 points on her way to becoming the first Irishwoman to win two World Indoor medals (March 22).

O’Connor went into the final event of the day, the 800m, firmly in medal contention and delivered when it mattered most. She produced a personal best of 2:10.26 to secure bronze, finishing just 49 points behind gold medallist Sofie Dokter (NED), who scored 4,888. Anna Hall (USA) took silver with 4,860.

This result continues a remarkable run of success at major championships for O’Connor. In 2025, the Dundalk athlete claimed medals at the European Indoor Championships (bronze), World Indoor Championships (silver), World University Games (gold), and the World Outdoor Championships (silver). Only two Irish athletes, Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, have now won more individual global medals at senior championships.

Speaking after her 800m this evening, the two-time World Indoor medallist said: “I came here with very high expectations and although I maybe didn’t meet them, I’m coming away a world bronze medallist and I really can’t complain with that. I think it’s probably a good thing that I am walking away thinking I could do a little better, but ultimately I’m delighted.

After opening my season so well at the national championships, I really hoped to come here and do something extraordinary. I’ve had a couple of health issues since nationals and I wouldn’t say that training has gone 100%, so what I did today probably showed that. What’s amazing is that a sub-par day still gets me a medal and I’m really excited to build on this for the outdoor season.

My plan is to do the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. I’ll open at the Commonwealths, and then the Europeans are the main aim for me. I want to try and win gold. It’s going to be a tough competition, but if you don’t go in with the mindset to win gold, you’re never going to do it. I’m going to work really hard for the next four or five months and put myself in the position to win that gold.”

The national record holder made a strong start in the 60m hurdles this morning, clocking 8.23 seconds – just 0.02 outside her personal best set at the recent National Indoor Championships. She followed this with a best clearance of 1.81m in the high jump, achieved on her final attempt despite tripping on a cable during her opening run-up.

In the shot put, the final event of the morning session, the 25-year-old delivered an excellent series. She opened with 14.59m, improved to a 1cm personal best of 14.65m in her second round, and then extended that further to 14.70m with her final throw.

O’Connor began the evening session with a foul in the long jump but once again rose to the occasion, producing a best of 6.38m on her final attempt to keep her firmly in the medal hunt in her final 800m event.

It marks another hugely successful championship for Team Ireland and bodes well for the upcoming outdoor season, which will be headlined by the European Championships in Birmingham from August 10–16.

Day 3 Results Summary

• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – 60m Hurdles: 8.23
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – High Jump: 1.81m
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – Shot Put: 14.70m
• Sarah Lavin – 60m Hurdles Heats – 08 (5th, did not advance)
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – Long Jump: 6.38m
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – 800m: 2:10.26 PB
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – BRONZE (4839 Points NR)

Team Ireland Results Summary

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – BRONZE NR
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 3000m – Final – 9^th overall
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 3000m – Final – 13^th overall
• Mark English – Men’s 800m – SF Stage – 14^th overall
• Bori Akinola – Men’s 60m – SF Stage – 15^th overall
• Maeve O’Neill – Women’s 800m – SF Stage – 18^th overall
• Lauren Roy – Women’s 60m- SF Stage – 19^th overall
• Emma Moore – Women’s 800m – Heats – 22^nd overall
• James Gormley – Men’s 1500m – Heats – 29^th overall
• Ciara Neville – Women’s 60m – Heats – 31^st overall
• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Heats – 32^nd overall

Full Results are HERE

ENDS

• Interviews available on Athletics Ireland social media channels
• Day 3 Morning Report: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/oconnor-firmly-in-medal-contention-on-final-day-of-world-indoor-championships/

Ireland’s medal history at the World Athletics Indoor Championships

• 1987 1500m Marcus O’Sullivan GOLD 3:39.04
• 1987 3000m Frank O’Mara GOLD 8:03.32
• 1987 3000m Paul Donovan SILVER 8:03.99
• 1989 1500m Marcus O’Sullivan GOLD 3:36.64
• 1991 3000m Frank O’Mara GOLD 7:41.14
• 1993 1500m Marcus O’Sullivan GOLD 3:45.00
• 1997 3000m Sonia O’Sullivan SILVER 8:46.19
• 2003 400m Paul McKee BRONZE 45.99
• 2004 4x400m Relay Relay BRONZE 3.10.44 (Rob Daly, Gary Ryan, David Gillick, David McCarthy
• 2006 60m Hurdles Derval O’Rourke GOLD 7.84
• 2025 Pentathlon Kate O’Connor SILVER 4742 pts
• 2026 Pentathlon Kate O’Connor BRONZE 4839 pts