Conor Kelly, similarly to Rhasidat Adeleke, joins the University of Texas by pledging his academic future there
Ireland's Conor Kelly Wins Gold at European Under-20 Championships
Conor Kelly, an Irish sprinter specializing in the 400 meters, has made history by winning the gold medal at the European Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. With a time of 45.83 seconds, Kelly improved his own Irish under-20 record and secured Ireland's only medal over the four-day championships.
Kelly, born in 2007 to Irish parents in London, has a strong background of success at a young age. He identifies proudly with his Irish heritage and has ties to Derry. In early 2025, at age 17, he became the Irish national indoor champion over 400 meters and competed at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Kelly entered the 2025 European Athletics U20 Championships as the European number one ranked athlete in the 400m and progressed to the final with strong performances, including winning his initial heat at these championships. His victory at the European Under-20 Championships marks him as the ninth Irish athlete to win a European Under-20 gold.
Other successful Irish athletes who have won at this level include Mark Carroll, Ciara Mageean, Sarah Lavin, Sarah Healy, Kate O'Connor, and Rhasidat Adeleke. Adeleke, like Kelly, progressed her talent at the University of Texas after winning a European Under-20 sprint double in 2021.
Regarding his upcoming commitment, while it is confirmed that Kelly has been contemplating multiple offers from U.S. institutions following his breakthrough performances, specific confirmation of his commitment to the University of Texas or any other university was not explicitly stated in the available sources. His trajectory indicates a likely move to compete collegiately in the U.S., which would align with many top young track athletes’ progression paths.
In addition to Kelly's achievement, Darragh McElhinney improved his best to 13:02.06, the second fastest time on the Irish all-time list. Precious Akpe-Moses made the 100m and 200m final, anchored the women's 4x100m relay to finish eighth, and performed encouragingly in Tampere. Seán Cronin finished eighth in the tactical 1,500m final, and Nick Griggs smashed his own Irish Under-23 record over 5,000m with a time of 13:05.75 in Oordegem, Belgium.
Kelly's gold medal win comes 50 years after John Treacy's bronze in the 5,000m in Athens in 1975. Upon receiving his medal, Kelly expressed joy, referencing his bronze medal in the European Under-18 event last year. The victory was historically one of the very best for Ireland in the Under-20 Championships.
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Sports have been a significant part of Conor Kelly's life, as he specializes in the 400 meters and has achieved remarkable success at the European Under-20 Championships. His gold medal win at the championships in Tampere, Finland, has cemented his position as one of Ireland's top young track athletes.
