Derval O’Rourke is a record breaking Irish hurdler; she began competing in her younger days back in her native Co. Cork, at Leevale Athletics Club. In this club O’Rourke enjoyed much success at underage level gaining Indoor and Outdoor records. From this success competing at junior level she gained an Athletic Scholarship for University College Dublin (UCD). She graduated in 200 with a degree in arts in 2003 and she then went on to get a Business Postgraduate from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business in 2004.

In 2004 Derval also competed in the Olympics Games in Athens, but an injury she suffered in the build up to the games seriously hampered her chances. Then in 2005 she competed in the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Madrid she also appeared in the World Student Games in Izmir, it was in these games that she won the bronze medal in the 100 metre hurdles. This was one of Derval’s biggest wins to date.

Derval competed in the World Indoor Championships in Moscow in March of 2006; this championship saw her take the gold medal in the 60 metre hurdles. This win saw her break her own Irish record in the process; she also gained the title as the only Irish female athlete to win a world indoor title. Another big win for Derval was at the European Championships in Gothenburg where she won the Silver medal at the 100 metre hurdles. Derval continued to break more records on the way. This win saw Derval take her place in the ranks of the world’s greatest athletes. Derval’s next plans is competing at the London 2012 Olympics.