- Michael O’Leary’s nephew Jack O’Leary finished 10th in the men’s 10,000m final
- He came from 17th place at halfway to secure his position
- His time was 28:24.89
- This marks his first senior international track championship for Ireland
- He competes for Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club
Michael O’Leary’s nephew Jack O’Leary finishes tenth in European Athletics Championships 10,000m
Irish athlete Jack O’Leary finished in tenth place in the men’s 10,000-metre final at the 2026 European Athletics Championships. The runner from Westmeath, competing for the Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club, delivered a brave performance on Day 6 of the event at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
O’Leary sat back in 17th place at the halfway mark before working through a highly competitive field of 25 runners over the final half of the race. He crossed the finish line in 10th place overall with a season’s best time of 28:24.89. This achievement marks his first senior international track championship for Ireland following a decade-long battle with injuries.
After the race, O’Leary shared his excitement with RTÉ Sport, stating that despite being 28 years old, he feels the hunger of an 18-year-old and has plenty more years to go in this sport. The race featured strong competition from across Europe, with the field of 25 runners representing the continent’s top distance athletes. The performance represents a significant milestone for the Mullingar Harriers athlete on the international stage.
Known for sharing, “I was born to be a jockey, but ended up being the horse,” O’Leary grew up on a racing stud farm, but chose running over horse racing. He is the son of Gigginstown House Stud racing manager Eddie O’Leary, brother of Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary
