What's better than one successful sporting athlete? Why, two successful sporting athletes.
We might be far removed from Valentines Day, but love is in the air with these sporting power couples. No doubt these sports duos will make anything competitive in their daily lives.
We've compiled a list of the top sporting power couples, from those abroad to those at home.
Kate O'Connor and Georgie Kelly
Our first two are straight from home. Kate O'Connor has this weekend added a world silver to her repertoire after bronze success in the Netherlands at the European Indoor Championship. She broke her own personal record and will surely do it again.
Meanwhile, Georgie Kelly dominated in the League of Ireland for Bohemians, and now Carlisle United in Football League Two greatly await his return as they make a bid for survival.
Speaking to the Irish Independent back after the European medal, Kelly explained what makes his better half tick, calling her a 'killer'
She’s well versed in dealing with different pressures to me. We are different, Kate is ruthless, a real competitor, win at all costs,”
“Her ability to produce under pressure last weekend, that was unreal, the pressure she was under, seeing girls perform well just before her and knowing she has to hit a certain mark or she’s gone, that’s the bit of my sports psyche that I’d lack.
She’s a killer and I admire so much about what she does – I probably don’t tell her enough
Douglas Luiz and Alisha Lehmann
Formerly an Aston Villa power couple, these two made a rare "couple transfer" last summer where they are now a Juventus power couple.
The two have been noted as "inseperable" since their days at Villa, and if another transfer was on the cards, the centre-midfielder and winger would surely be going together.
Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird
These two are trailblazers in their respective sports in America. Sue Bird won five consecutive Olympic gold medals in her career. She was an eleven time All-Star and four time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm.
Rapinoe on the other hand, was the captain of NSWL side OL Reign, and won the World Cup with the USA in 2015 and 2019, while also receiving both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the latter year. Their trophy cabinet must be nice.
Rob and Marian Heffernan
London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Rob Heffernan married into more sporting stardom, with wife Marian also competing at the London Olympics. She was part of the women's 4x4 400m relay team and achieved domestic success in the 400m herself.
Rob achieved great success as a race walker, having won the World Championships in Moscow in 2013.
George North and Becky James
Team GB Olympic Cyclist Becky James has two silver medals to her name, both won at Rio in 2016. She married two-time Lions tour man George North in 2019. North has won four Six Nations Championships in his tenure with Wales.
James also represented her home country of Wales in the Commonwealth Games in 2013, winning two medals in the 500m track and sprint track races.
JJ and Kealia Watt
This power couple were the pride of Houston, most known for their times with NFL side the Houston Texans and NSWL outfit Houston Dash.
Now, after retiring in 2022 and 2023 respectively, the two are expecting their second child together as of February.
Derval O'Rourke and Peter O'Leary
One of Ireland's most decorated track athletes, Derval O'Rourke has two European silver medals for the 100m hurdles and a gold in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in 2006.
Peter O'Leary is a two-time Olympic sailor, having competed in the men's star class at Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. A talented bunch.
Dean Rock and Niamh McEvoy
It's an all-Dublin GAA affair with these two, and there's thirteen All-Ireland wins between them. Rock was a vital part of Dublin's six-in-a-row dominance in the men's championship, while McEvoy was part of the Dublin ladies winning teams between 2010 and 2019.
She spent two seasons playing in the AFL with Melbourne before retiring in 2022, while he hung up his boots at the start of 2024.
Originally written by Jonathan Byrne in 2021
