Kate O'Connor celebrated winning heptathlon gold for Ireland at the European Championships in Birmingham with a "double burger". That choice seemed fitting: one burger for each major championship she has won in the past three weeks following on from her success for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games.

It was beautiful, it was stunning, I ate every single bite of it. And yeah, it was bliss," said Kate O'Connor. Some of those words could have been used to describe the performances this summer which have lifted the 25-year-old to legendary status in Irish athletics.

But the Newry-born athlete's thoughts are already turning to the future, including how to better the World Championship silver medal she won behind American Anna Hall into something greater at next year's event in Beijing before the 2028 Olympics. "I've got two titles to my name now, and the next goal is to get a world title and then an Olympic title. That is ultimately the aim," she says.

After the triumph, she will take a couple of weeks playoffs to "chill" and reflect with her dad and coach, Michael, as they plan ahead for what will hopefully be an exciting couple of years, while dedicating the gold to the memory of her grandmother Madeleine, who passed away earlier this year.