Ireland's O'Connor wins historic world silver medal

Ireland's Kate O'Connor claimed a historic silver medal in the women's heptathlon with a superb performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The 24-year-old finished with 6,714 points to come second behind gold medallist Anna Hall of the United States (6,888) after registering five personal bests across the two days of competition.

It is Ireland's first global outdoor medal in the multi-events and O'Connor's fourth medal in 2025.

Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson and American Taliyah Brooks shared bronze after they finished on 6581 points apiece in a dramatic finish, while Belgium's three-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam withdrew from the competition when ranked eighth earlier on Saturday.

On Friday, O'Connor recorded three PBs in the 100m hurdles, high jump, 200m to sit second behind Hall and put herself firmly in medal contention at the Japan National Stadium.

She dropped to fourth early in day two, 50 points off a podium place following a 6.22m jump in the long jump.

The Newry-born athlete, who was wearing strapping on her right knee after the long jump, responded superbly in the javelin with another PB of 53.06m on her first throw.

That set a new national record and topped the field which helped her move in front of Brooks and into second in the standings.

In the final event, the 800m, O'Connor produced another stunning run for a fifth PB in seven events with a time of two minutes, 9.56 seconds.

The silver medal caps the best year of O'Connor's career after she claimed bronze in the pentathlon at the European Championships, silver at the World Indoors before setting a new national record at the World University Games to claim gold outdoors.

After battling injuries to qualify for her first Olympics last year, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist finished 14th in Paris, but she has begun the start of the Los Angeles 2028 cycle in superb form.

There is another hope of an Irish medal on Saturday as Cian McPhillips goes in the men's 800m final at 14:22 BST.

The 23-year-old Longford man won his semi-final on Thursday in a new Irish record time of 1:43.18.

Ireland's women's 4x400m relay team of Sophie Becker, Cliodhna Manning, Rachel McCann and Sharlene Mawdsley were also in action on Saturday, but finished last in their heat.