Ireland's Kate O'Connor secured heptathlon gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, having led before the final event, the 800m.
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Key facts
- Kate O'Connor of Ireland won heptathlon gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
- She led the competition before the final event, the 800m, according to the BBC.
- Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson was out of contention.
- O'Connor had won the same event at the Commonwealth Games weeks earlier.
Ireland’s Kate O’Connor won gold in the women’s heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, according to the BBC.
Ahead of the final event, O’Connor was in pole position for the title with just the 800m remaining, the BBC reported. Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, meanwhile, found herself out of contention for a medal.
O’Connor went on to secure the gold. Reflecting on the win, she said her late grandmother “would have been jumping for joy” at her achievement, according to the BBC.
Speaking after her victory, O’Connor described the competition as an emotional experience, saying “It was so up and down,” the BBC reported.
The European title came just weeks after O’Connor won the same event at the Commonwealth Games, adding to a strong run of form for the Irish athlete.
Why it matters
O'Connor's victory marks a significant achievement for Irish athletics, following her Commonwealth Games win in the same event just weeks earlier. Her back-to-back major titles highlight her rise as a leading heptathlete in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham?
Ireland's Kate O'Connor won the women's heptathlon gold, according to the BBC.
Where did Katarina Johnson-Thompson finish?
According to the BBC, Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson was out of contention for a medal before the final event.
Had O'Connor won any other recent titles?
Yes. The BBC reported she won the same event at the Commonwealth Games just weeks before her European Championships gold.
Timeline
- 'It was so up and down' – O'Connor wins heptathlon gold
BBC Sport: Ireland's Kate O'Connor speaks after winning gold in the women's heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships, just weeks after winning the same event at the Commonwealth Games.
- O'Connor secures European gold in heptathlon
BBC Sport: Kate O'Connor says her late grandmother "would have been jumping for joy" at the Irish athlete claims gold in the heptathlon at the European Championships in Birmingham.
- Ireland's O'Connor secures heptathlon European gold
BBC Sport: Kate O'Connor says her late grandmother "would have been jumping for joy" at the Irish athlete claims gold in the heptathlon at the European Championships in Birmingham.
- O'Connor leads heptathlon before final event, while Hunt eyes third gold
BBC Sport: Ireland's Kate O'Connor is in pole position for heptathlon gold with just the 800m remaining at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, but Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson finds herself out of contention.