The Irish athlete was a silver medallist for Northern Eire on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, then completed thirteenth on the following 12 months’s World Championships and 14th on the Olympics in Paris.

She says she’s going to permit herself a while over the festive interval to mirror on her seismic progress over current months, earlier than setting out her stall for 2026.

“It has been so pleasurable and at occasions I am simply wanting ahead to getting again into my routine and get again coaching for subsequent 12 months, however I’ve additionally received to understand that I did one thing particular this 12 months and simply relish that and benefit from the second.

“In the beginning of the 12 months I hadn’t got down to win 4 worldwide medals, my purpose was to win one worldwide medal, however as soon as I received on the roll I realised that it was doable.

“I did not let something cease me and that is most likely one of many issues I learnt this 12 months, to by no means be small – be huge, take up room, and know that you simply belong in these sort of locations.

“My outlook on sport is completely different and my expectations of myself are completely different and for the remainder of my athletics profession I’ll try to win medals. I am not simply there as a placeholder, I need to be the most effective.”

O’Connor recorded 5 private bests throughout the seven occasions in ending runner-up on the Worlds in Tokyo, setting a brand new Irish nationwide report of 6,714 factors.

Earlier within the 12 months she managed a brand new Irish indoor pentathlon report of 4,683 factors on the Tallinn Mixed Occasions assembly in Estonia and gained the 800m and set 4 private bests in coming in third on the European Indoors.

She says she desires to compete in athletics professionally for the following two Olympic cycles, with a gold medal her major ambition.

“My final purpose is to get to the Olympics and to be on the rostrum and attempt to win a gold medal. I believe in case you’re not imagining your self doing that you simply’re by no means going to get it.

“I’ll work actually arduous till I get there. I totally imagine that I can do it. Though I did nice issues this 12 months, I do know there may be a lot extra there. I am simply going to proceed constructing and see what else I can do.”