Ireland's highest profile athlete first hit the international scene while attending University College in Dublin, Ireland. The year 2003 proved to be a breakout season for Derval. Shortly after graduating college with Honors, Derval finished 4th at the 2003 European Under 23 Athletics Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland with a national record of 12.96 seconds. Later that summer, she qualified for her first World Championships in Paris, France.
In 2004, Derval qualified for her first Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The following year, she graduated from University College Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business with a degree in Business Studies. A couple of months later, Derval advanced out of the first round of a major championship for the first time at the 2005 World Championships.
The year 2006 proved to be very special for Derval as she won the World Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles while breaking the Irish national record. She also became the first Irish woman to win an indoor world title. During the outdoor season, Derval overcame an injury early in the season to set three personal bests in the 100-meter hurdles, breaking her national record each time. She won a silver medal at the European Championships and set a new national record as a member of the 4x100-meter relay.
Derval once again advanced to the semi-finals at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. The following year, she qualified and competed in her second Olympic Games but was eliminated in the first round.
The 2009 season began with a 60-meter dash bronze medal at the 2009 European Indoor Championships. She followed that up with an excellent outdoor season capped off with a 4th place finish at the World Championships while breaking her own national record and recording the fastest time for a European that season.
Derval got off to a slow start in 2010 after injuries delayed training and forced her to miss the World Indoor Championships. However, she was in top form by the end of the summer as she won a silver medal at the European Championships with, yet again, a new Irish national record. After the meet, Derval flew back to Ireland and was greeted at the airport by cheering fans, the media and Irish Sports Minister Marv Hanafin.
The 2010 season was not over, however. Derval was selected to represent Europe at the 2010 Continental Cup in the 100-meter hurdles. This made her the fifth Irish person an second female ever selected to represent Europe at the event. She went on to finish fifth at the meet.
Prior to the 2011 Season, Derval went back to University College to get her Masters in Business Management. Derval went on to turn in a typically fine season after finishing 4th at the European Indoor Championships and reaching the semifinal at the World Championships.
Expectations are high for Derval going into this season as she attempts to earn her first Olympic medal.
2009 World Indoor Championships Bronze Medalist and World Outdoor Championships 4th place, 2006 World Indoor Champion, 2006 European Championships Silver Medalist, 3-time Olympian, 5-time World Championships Qualifier
