FORMER WORLD CHAMPION and three-time Olympian Derval O’Rourke has announced her retirement from athletics.
“It’s been a tough decision but it feels like the right time,” O’Rourke, 33, said in a statement released this morning.
The Leevale AC athlete had hoped to return to action at the European Championships in August, but hung up her spikes after accepting that she would not be in a position to contend for a medal in Zurich.
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“Going to a Championships just to be there, isn’t me,” she said.
O’Rourke’s final competitive race came at the European Indoors in March 2013 where she was upgraded to bronze after winner Nevin Yanit of Turkey tested positive for banned substances.
It was her fifth championship medal along with European silver medals in the 100m hurdles in 2006 and 2010, and a 60m hurdles bronze from the 2009 European Indoors.
The highlight of her 12-year senior career came in 2006 when she was crowned the world indoor champion in Moscow, blitzing the field to take 60m hurdles gold in 7.84 seconds.
O’Rourke retires with three Irish senior records still intact (50m indoor hurdles, 60m indoor hurdles and 100m hurdles) and as a three-time Olympian having represented her country at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
“I’ve had an absolutely amazing career in athletics and for that I am so grateful to all the support I have received along the way.”
She added: “I’ve been extremely lucky with the team I’ve had around me. Sean and Terrie Cahill are the rock that my success has been built on. Together we forged a way to be successful on a world stage and I’m incredibly grateful for their focus, passion and dedication.
“I’ve loved every minute of my athletics career but now I’m going to take some time to reflect on what has been a very privileged job for me for the past 12 years and make some decisions for the future.”
Fantastic athlete and representative for this country and it’s athletics program over the last dozen years or so.
However, I’d say she was slightly disappointed not to receive any additional funding this year but maybe it’s time to give the younger crop a turn.
A wonderful role model to kids throughout her entire career too!
When I hear she has retired, my initial thoughts would be that she underachieved, purely because lay people measure athletics success in Olympic and World Championship medals.
But when a bit of thought is put into it, and you see her achievements in black and white, fully in the knowledge that she was a clean athlete, competing for a country that woefully resources our athletes, with crap training facilities on top of that, and you see that she is a bona fida legend of a sportswoman, in a discipline that was as tough as it comes.
Best of luck to Derval, if anyone in Irish athletics deserved an Olympic medal it is her, ambassador for clean running and a drug free sport. Look forward to her inevitable and welcome move into the media…. I hope
World indoor championships: gold x 1.
European championships: silver x 2.
European indoor championships: bronze x 2.
European team championships: bronze x 2.
Sprint hurdles in the 60m and 100m categories. Any other questions?
Well done Derval. A great athlete.
Sorry for being completely sexist -Admittedly, she doesn’t photograph particularly well, BUT, I met her on a night out last year, she’s absolutely stunningly gorgeous with a figure to kill for ! and, she was incredibly charming as well.
Brilliant athlete. Check out Jarlath Regans Irishman Abroad podcast interview which her for a real insight into the life of an elite athlete. Best of luck Derval
Derval is and was a super athlete. She received the plaudits for her successes and well deserved. Hopefully a role can be found for her. She was and is a nice person and a very good personality.
She is in a very small number who achieve victories and medals in major championships from a pool of hundreds of track and field athletes in Ireland who go about the routine of training 2 and 3 times a day! That’s not a typo! Most do it for the love of the sport. They are a special bunch and despite high level performances go virtually unrecognised.
Even at this age she is still able for the top dogs.Well done Derval on a really fantastic career.Can be very proud of yourself like we all are you.Represented your country very well.Enjoy your retirement!
To Derval O’Rourke – go raibh mile maith agat! Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
There are many trolls on here that are overweight with personal hygiene problems – they seek attention by inane remarks that only reveal their ignorance – to be treated with the contempt they deserve.
She showed us, almost single handedly, that Ireland isn’t full of smelly losers.
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Sorry to hear this…fine athlete who did us proud around the world. The girl done good…enjoy retirement.
Fine is right! I can’t be the only one hoping she takes up a media role, and for reasons beyond her professional insight!
Definitely in the beholder’s eye then! Good runner mind you.
I’m sure she will be getting work with rte for the Olympics every 4 years
#gerry
Fantastic career, a bright future lies ahead in media. Very intelligent.
Fantastic athlete and representative for this country and it’s athletics program over the last dozen years or so.
However, I’d say she was slightly disappointed not to receive any additional funding this year but maybe it’s time to give the younger crop a turn.
A wonderful role model to kids throughout her entire career too!
Pity she never won an Olympic medal. She was one of the best athletes to ever represent Ireland.
Well done Dervla, you had a good innings!
Derval
Typo…..I wish I could edit all of my typos on this site!
Well done Derval a fantastic role model for young people across the country.
When I hear she has retired, my initial thoughts would be that she underachieved, purely because lay people measure athletics success in Olympic and World Championship medals.
But when a bit of thought is put into it, and you see her achievements in black and white, fully in the knowledge that she was a clean athlete, competing for a country that woefully resources our athletes, with crap training facilities on top of that, and you see that she is a bona fida legend of a sportswoman, in a discipline that was as tough as it comes.
Best of luck to Derval, if anyone in Irish athletics deserved an Olympic medal it is her, ambassador for clean running and a drug free sport. Look forward to her inevitable and welcome move into the media…. I hope
She won what exactly ???
Why don’t you look it up and see?
She won gold in a world championship, a couple of silver in European and a couple of bronze. What did you win?
More than what Spurs have won the last few years anyway…that’s for sure!!!
Based an your avatar you support spurs without question & she has been far more successful for less reward than your avatar’s club.
World indoor championships: gold x 1.
European championships: silver x 2.
European indoor championships: bronze x 2.
European team championships: bronze x 2.
Sprint hurdles in the 60m and 100m categories. Any other questions?
Well done Derval. A great athlete.
Dope
She is also a 3 time Olympian! You don’t get free passes to that! Fair play to her!She done her country proud regardless of begrudging trolls!!!
More than you.
@ Michael…the immense respect of a nation to start with..
Michael, you internet guru you…..
Class act, on the track and off. Never spoke in platitudes and always insightful. Would make a great pundit at the Olympics.
Sorry for being completely sexist -Admittedly, she doesn’t photograph particularly well, BUT, I met her on a night out last year, she’s absolutely stunningly gorgeous with a figure to kill for ! and, she was incredibly charming as well.
In Summary, she’s a 100% total ride !
Brought my young daughter out to see the athletics in UCD, she asked derval for a autograph to which derval smerked and walked passed her.
She’s a gud un !!
Brilliant athlete. Check out Jarlath Regans Irishman Abroad podcast interview which her for a real insight into the life of an elite athlete. Best of luck Derval
Derval is and was a super athlete. She received the plaudits for her successes and well deserved. Hopefully a role can be found for her. She was and is a nice person and a very good personality.
She is in a very small number who achieve victories and medals in major championships from a pool of hundreds of track and field athletes in Ireland who go about the routine of training 2 and 3 times a day! That’s not a typo! Most do it for the love of the sport. They are a special bunch and despite high level performances go virtually unrecognised.
Best of luck in the future, a fabulous athlete and a wonderful ambassador for Irish sport
Even at this age she is still able for the top dogs.Well done Derval on a really fantastic career.Can be very proud of yourself like we all are you.Represented your country very well.Enjoy your retirement!
Great athlete and role model
To Derval O’Rourke – go raibh mile maith agat! Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
There are many trolls on here that are overweight with personal hygiene problems – they seek attention by inane remarks that only reveal their ignorance – to be treated with the contempt they deserve.
She showed us, almost single handedly, that Ireland isn’t full of smelly losers.
She will have more time to do what’s important. Dervla loves Dervla. Expect to see her everywhere.