Her colitis analysis additionally got here in 2012 and, whereas “just about in denial” initially, it was a situation that she learnt to handle regardless of the calls for of a sport that concerned yearly swimming round 2,500 kilometres.
Certainly, after the collective disappointment of the swimming medal haul at London 2012, O’Connor has been a part of a British squad that exceeded projections in Rio de Janeiro and at the moment are severe contenders throughout a spread of occasions, together with the relays.
O’Connor received particular person silver in Rio, simply 0.3 seconds off gold, and there have been World and European golds within the 4x100m medley, in addition to 9 Commonwealth Video games medals, together with particular person victories in each Glasgow and the Gold Coast within the 200m medley. She retires with 34 main medals.
“I believe the tough journey with my well being struggles made the sensation of reaching my targets so a lot better,” she says. “Even when every thing was going nicely, I struggled to place collectively three good weeks of coaching earlier than I grew to become in poor health. It meant that we have been all the time adapting.
“My immune system is compromised and, in addition to the flare ups, I’d choose up any bug going round. After I look again, I really feel prefer it’s nearly one other individual and I ponder how I did it. It was thoughts over matter however I’ve to hearken to my physique. If I’ve dangerous signs now I have not received to fret about coaching six hours a day. For the primary time, I’ve additionally been in a position to look again relatively than all the time be enthusiastic about the following race or coaching session.”
O’Connor has additionally been trying to the long run and, for the previous yr, has been remotely taking the NCTJ journalism qualification and now hopes to enter sports activities journalism. “I’m a large sports activities fan,” she says. “I didn’t get to complete my A-Ranges however I’ve actually loved getting again to learning. I’ve sat all my exams and I’m ready for the outcomes.”
The easy mantra which outlined her swimming will even stand her in good stead.
“After I was little and first began competing, I keep in mind my mum and pa would say, ‘you possibly can solely do your finest’. It sounds apparent however it’s so true. You will get wrapped up on the elite stage in all of the various factors that go into a superb efficiency however, actually, it simply boils all the way down to doing all your finest day in time out. I all the time needed to have the ability to stand on the blocks and know I had left no stone unturned. It means you haven’t any regrets. I all the time did my finest and that’s one thing I will be actually happy with.”