GOLD – Aoife O’Rourke Wins Fourth European Championship Title
Aoife O’Rourke is a four time European Champion.
The Roscommon native retained her crown with another impressive victory in Sofia today.
The Castlerea BC talent took the 75kg continental gong thanks to a resounding win over Turkey’s Büşra Işıldar.
Isildar is a multiple World and European medalist but couldn’t best the double Olympian, who claimed the victory 5-0
Judges scored the bout 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:26; 29:28.
This gold medal is O’Rourke’s fourth at Continental level. She topped the podium in 2019, 2022 and 2024, she also won 2023 European Games gold.
The decorated star’s journey to the top of the podium has included wins over 80+kg World Champion, Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska and Russia’s 2025 World Champion, Saltanat Medenova.
The gold is Ireland’s second of the tournament as O’Rourke followed in her younger sister’s footsteps, with Lisa O’Rourke winning gold at 80kg on Thursday.
Team Ireland come home with four medals as Michaela Walsh and Jon McConnell earned bronze in Bulgaria.
