Derval O'Rourke is one of Cork's most successful athletes.

She was World Indoor Champion hurdler in 2006 and has also won two European Outdoor Championship and two European Indoor Championship medals.

Now retired from athletics, she is an ambassador for Pfizer's 13th Health Index, an annual survey of Ireland's behaviours and attitudes to health.

The results of this year's survey, released yesterday, show that the Irish appear to be more health-conscious than ever, with 69% of people rating their health as 7 out of 10 or higher.

Derval has been retired for four years, and she says she went through a slump regarding her own health and fitness. She is now teaching others about healthy eating and has published two cookbooks. She was also a mentor on the most recent series of Ireland's Fittest Family.

"When you're a professional athlete everyone around you is telling you what to do all the time, then when you retire you have none of that support and you have to become very self-driven."

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