O'Connor 'ecstatic' with unexpected European bronze

Ireland's Kate O'Connor admits she "wasn't expecting" to win a pentathlon bronze medal but is "ecstatic" with her performance at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.

O'Connor produced a superb run to win the 800 metres and beat Great Britain's Jade O'Dowda to bronze in the final event in Apeldoorn.

The 24-year-old had previously set personal bests in the 60 metre hurdles, high jump and long jump, as well as a strong performance in the shot put, to move into medal contention.

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get a medal but I'm buzzing that I did," said O'Connor.

"My plan was to go out and run as hard as I could. I really wanted a medal and I'm ecstatic that I managed to get it."

Despite her strong performance in the Netherlands, O'Connor was still outside the medal placings heading into the 800 metres..

The Newry-born athlete, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland in 2022, put in a storming run to win the race and edge O'Dowda to third place overall.

O'Dowda is a former training partner of O'Connor, who said they had a conversation before the 800m that they would be "friends no matter what happens".

O'Connor set a new Irish record of 4781, surpassing her own tally by 98 points, as she won bronze behind Finland's Saga Vanninen (4922) and Dutch athlete Sofie Doktor (4826).

"To be honest, no," O'Connor said when asked if she expected to win a medal.

"After the long jump I was a little upset. I had done four world class performances and was still trailing. I knew all those girls had great 800s.

"I had a plan to go out and run as hard as I could and try not to be disappointed with myself.

"It was insane. Four girls with those kinds of scores are unbelievable. So to be part of that is amazing, to be part of the medals is even better.

"I hope we push each other on. The world championships are coming up soon so we'll see what happens at them."