O'Connor made her international debut for Great Britain in 2011. Her most memorable achievements include winning silver in the 200m individual medley at the 2016 Rio Olympics and defending her Commonwealth Games title in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. She was the first female swimmer to defend a 200m individual medley title at the Commonwealth Games.

Influences and Inspirations

Coach Dave McNulty has been the most influential person in O'Connor's career. She has also looked up to British swimmer Rebecca Adlington as her idol. Her sporting philosophy is simple: "You get out what you put in."

Challenges and Health Issues

O'Connor's career has not been without challenges. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after the 2012 London Olympics. This condition caused her to miss the British Olympic trials in April 2021 and led to hospitalisations in December 2018 and January 2019. Despite these setbacks, she continued to compete at a high level.

Retirement and Reflections

In June 2021, O'Connor announced her retirement from competitive swimming. She expressed disappointment at missing the Tokyo Olympics but took pride in her career achievements. Reflecting on her journey with ulcerative colitis, she shared that it taught her strength comes from overcoming challenges.

Awards and Honours

O'Connor received several accolades during her career. She was named Professional Sports Personality of the Year at the Bristol Post Sports Awards in 2018 and received the same honour at the Bath Sports Awards in 2016.

Media Training and Public Speaking

From 2016 to 2019, O'Connor received media training from Sky Sports as part of their Sky Academy Sports Scholar programme. This training helped her manage media interactions better, especially around significant events like the Rio Olympics.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Outside of swimming, O'Connor enjoys watching TV, eating out, going to the cinema, and reading. She keeps her 2016 Olympic silver medal in a sock at home to prevent it from getting scratched.

Siobhan-Marie O'Connor's journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. Her story continues to inspire many within and beyond the swimming community.