Some athletes are forced into retirement, others simply make the hard call, and for Derval O’Rourke it’s probably a bit of both. After 12 seasons competing on the world stage, and having just turned 33, “it feels like the right time”.
Her decision brings down the curtain on an amazing career that put Irish sprint hurdling onto the global athletics map for the first time: in 2006 she was crowned World Indoor champion, winning the 60 metres hurdles in Moscow, and also won two outdoor European silver medals in the 100 metres hurdles, in Gothenburg in 2006 and Barcelona in 2010.
Her national record of 12.65 seconds, set in 2010, remains truly world class, and O’Rourke also finished fourth at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, where she came very close to another major championship medal.
Still she retires with five major championship medals in all – including the bronze medal she is due from last last's European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg: O'Rourke finished a close fourth on the day, but gold medallist Nevin Yanit from Turkey last failed a doping test, and is serving a two-year ban.
The plan was for O’Rourke to target one more European Championships, in Zurich in August, but her preparations have been hampered by a series of injuries: she also missed all of last season after undergoing a complicated Achilles tendon operation, and hadn’t raced so far this season.
Against that backdrop, and with time clearly running out for her to get a 2014 season underway, O’Rourke announced her decision to retire this morning.
“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,” says O’Rourke. “It’s been a tough decision but it feels like the right time. I knew I could compete this season, but not in a time to be in medal contention by European outdoors.
“Going to a championships just to be there, isn’t me.
The Cork native, who always ran with her original club, Leevale, broke several Irish records, indoors and out, over the course of her career. She also had the distinction of qualifying and competing at every major outdoor championship from 2002 to 2012, including the Athens, Beijing, and London Olympics.
“The last competitive race I ran was the bronze medal I won last year at European Indoors and I feel like that was a great performance,” she adds.
“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 what has been a very privileged job for me for the past 12 years and make some decisions for the future.”
Derval O’Rourke: Roll of Honour
Gold – 60m Hurdles - World Indoor Championships 2006 (Moscow)
Silver – 100m Hurdles - European Championships 2006 (Gothenburg)
Silver – 100m Hurdles - European Championships 2010 (Barcelona)
Bronze – 60m Hurdles - European Indoor Championships 2009 (Turin)
Bronze – 60m Hurdles - European Indoor Championships 2013 (Gothenburg)
Fourth – 100m Hurdles - World Championships 2009 (Berlin)
Three- time Irish Olympian – Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012
Represented Europe at the IAAF Continental Cup in 2010
Irish Senior Record Holder
50m Hurdles Indoor (6.80 – Lievin 2006)
60m Hurdles Indoor (7.84 – Moscow 2006)
100m Hurdles Outdoor (12.65 – Barcelona 2010)
