“It’s a really complicated dynamic, I don’t know how we make it work, but we do. He fits into all the different roles.”
Heptathlete Kate O’Connor has been coached by her father Michael since she was 10 years old.
She’s been there through the ups and downs of her daughter’s budding career to date, although the former have definitely outweighed the latter recently.
The 25-year-old really announced herself on the world stage in 2025, winning four medals, including gold at the World University Games, silver at the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships and bronze at the European Indoor Championships.
Since it’s all he’s ever known and he’s enjoyed so much success, O’Connor says having his father as a coach “works really well for me” and shared insight into the different roles he has to play as he takes on the roles of his agent, coach and father.
“He’s the middleman who organizes things and decides when I have days off to do things with sponsors. I know he’s totally on my side and understands both sides of being an athlete: making a living and training. That’s really helpful,” he explained.
“When I’m competing, I’m an athlete-coach unless something goes wrong, like in Tokyo at the World Championships. I hurt my knee and those moments can be very difficult when I’m really upset, I can see that he’s really upset for me too.
“When something derails me a little bit, he tries his best to give me pep talks and I believe him, but it’s hard, you can see how much it means to him too and you can see it in real life, you don’t let anyone down, but you can see someone willing to make you do well.
“It’s class to have someone 100% on your side and he sets the standard very high for the rest of the guys who work for me.”