After a grueling week at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Kate O'Connor, Ireland's newest heptathlon silver medallist, found a unique way to celebrate her historic achievement. Instead of joining her fellow athletes for a night out, O'Connor opted for a quiet evening with pizza and close friends.

A Quiet Celebration

"We came home and a load of the athletes were going out, but I just decided that I wanted to stay in," O'Connor shared with BBC Sport NI. "We ordered four large pizzas and had a couple of drinks at the hotel." While pepperoni is usually her go-to topping, O'Connor decided to try something different. "There were some jalapenos on it, which I wouldn't normally go for, but it was quite nice," she said. "The bit of spice was just perfect."

Overcoming Injury

The celebration might not have been as sweet had O'Connor not overcome a knee injury sustained during the long jump. With only six hours until the javelin event, O'Connor was unsure if she could even compete. "We were given 30 minutes to go out on the track before the competition started so coaches could come out to help," she explained. "My knee was strapped up, and we had an ice pack on the whole time. I was praying that the pain would go away, but it didn't, so I was really stressed about that."

Despite the pain, O'Connor managed to throw the javelin over 53 meters, securing her second-place position, which she maintained through the 800m event. "When I crossed the line, it was like a sense of relief because during the competition, the pressure continues to build, not just from me but from outside," she said. "Then obviously, extreme joy."

A Year of Triumphs

2025 has been a landmark year for O'Connor, with a European Indoor bronze, World Indoor silver, World University Games gold, and now a World Championships silver medal. Her success follows a mindset shift after a disappointing 14th-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. "After Paris, I genuinely did have a chat with myself," she explained. "I felt like I know the athlete that I can be, and I had to turn to my dad and ask him if he thought that himself and the team could bring me to where I wanted to get myself to."

Looking Ahead

O'Connor is already looking forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and believes she has yet to reach her full potential. "That's one of the most exciting things for me is that I just scored 6,700 points, and there's so much there right now," she said. "So, what can I do with another winter behind me and another year behind me and another two years? Then obviously get to the Olympics, which will be another three. I don't think I've reached my limit at any of the events."

With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham on the horizon, O'Connor's future looks bright. "I think that right now, it's probably put my feet up and chill for a little while, but I'm looking forward to competing and pushing myself on," she said. "I definitely plan on doing both, Commonwealths and Europeans, and a couple more medals definitely would be lovely."

A Special Bond

O'Connor's success is also a testament to her close relationship with her father, Michael, who serves as her coach. "I don't know if it really puts a strain on our relationship or if our relationship is different to other father-daughter relationships because that's just the way that it's always been with us," she said. "I think that it's a really special relationship, and yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing what else we can do together."