Cork's Derval O'Rourke to enter Hall Of Fame at National Athletic awards
Derval O'Rourke enters the Hall Of Fame
Derval O’Rourke, one of Ireland’s most successful athletes, will be honoured with the Hall of Fame Award at this year’s 123.ie National Athletics Awards on next Wednesday in Dublin.
The Cork native first burst onto the international stage in 2003, breaking the 13 second mark for the first time with a 12.96 in the 100m hurdles to finish fourth at the European U23 Athletics Championships in Poland.
That performance not only set a new national record but also secured the ‘A standard’ qualification for the 2004 Olympic Games.
It marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would see O’Rourke represent Ireland at three Olympic Games.
Her breakthrough continued in 2006 when she claimed World Indoor gold in the 60m hurdles, cementing her status as one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes.
Renowned for her mental resilience and fierce competitive spirit, O’Rourke went on to win two European silver medals in the 100m hurdles (2006 and 2010), along with bronze medals at the European Indoor Championships in 2009 and 2013 over the 60m hurdles.
Arguably her finest performance came at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, where she finished fourth in the final, setting a new Irish record of 12.67 seconds.
She would go on to better that time in 2010, running 12.65 seconds en route to her silver medal at the European Championships in Barcelona.
O’Rourke retired in June 2014 aged 33.
O’Rourke’s national indoor hurdles records over 50m (6.80+) and 60m (7.84) still stand today, with her 2010 100m hurdles record of 12.65 only falling in 2023 to Sarah Lavin’s 12.62.
Three-time Irish Olympian – Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 Silver – 100m Hurdles – European Championships 2006 (Gothenburg) Gold – 60m Hurdles – World Indoor Championships 2006 (Moscow) Bronze – 60m Hurdles – European Indoor Championships 2009 (Turin) Fourth – 100m Hurdles – World Championships 2009 (Berlin) Silver – 100m Hurdles – European Championships 2010 (Barcelona) Bronze – 60m Hurdles – European Indoor Championships 2013 (Gothenburg)
Irish Senior Record Holder at time of retirement: 50m Hurdles Indoor (6.80 – Lievin 2006), 60m Hurdles Indoor (7.84 – Moscow 2006),100m Hurdles Outdoor (12.65 – Barcelona 2010).
This year’s awards will celebrate the many successes of Irish athletes during the season, while also commemorating the exceptional volunteer base who are the bedrock of the sport.
The Athlete of the Year will be selected from the athletes named as winner of the U20, U23, Track, Endurance, and Field/Multi Events categories.
A special moment in the ceremony will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s world record in the 4x1 mile relay (15:49.08), set on August 17th 1985, by legends Eamonn Coghlan, Ray Flynn, Frank O'Mara, and Marcus O'Sullivan.
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