Kate O'Connor (file pic). Nikola Krstic/INPHO

Ireland's Kate O'Connor wins gold at World University Games

It’s been a memorable day for the Dundalk native.

Updated at 22.31

IRELAND’S KATE O’CONNOR has won gold in the women’s heptathlon at the World University Games in Bochum, Germany.

The Dundalk native was all but assured of triumphing before tonight’s climactic 800m.

And a second-place finish in a time of 2.10.46, a new personal best, confirmed her gold medal success.

She had held a 373-point lead after six of seven events, with Australia’s Emelia Surch and Hungary’s Szabina Szűcs her closest rivals.

The runners-up spot in the 800m meant O’Connor finished with an overall tally of 6,487 points, eclipsing her 2021 national record (6,297)

It continues a remarkable year for the Ulster University athlete.

In addition to tonight’s feat, in 2025, she won a silver medal at the World Indoors and a bronze at the European Indoors.

“I’ve finally got a gold, it’s a great way to start my outdoor season,” O’Connor said following her win.

“It was a very early start this morning, we were running on very little sleep, to be honest, so to go out and jump what I did, I was pretty happy.

“And then, javelin, I probably would have liked a little bit more, but for this time of season and just getting moving, I would have 100% taken that before the comp and then to finish off in that 800, I just gave it as much as I possibly could have.”

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