THOMAS BARR NAMED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Thomas Barr was crowned Athlete of the Year at this evening’s Irish Life Health National Athletics Awards which were held virtually for the first time. Barr secured the award for a 4th time on the back of another brilliant season, culminating in an Olympic Games which saw the Ferrybank AC athlete mixing it with the world's best, agonisingly just missing out on an Olympic final.
Ireland’s record breaking sprint star, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), won the Irish U20 Athlete of the Year Award on the back of her outstanding performances over the course of 2021 which culminated in a double gold at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Estonia (100m & 200m).
The U23 Athlete of the Year Award was shared for the first time, with Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC) and Olympian David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley AC) acknowledged for their remarkable achievements in 2021 which included an Olympic debut for Kenny, and a team gold medal and individual silver for McElhinney at the European Cross Country Championships in December.
The Team of the Year Award went to the Olympic Mixed 4x400m Team of Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Chris O’Donnell and Cillin Greene, the first team in Irish athletics history to make it to an Olympic Final. The team was backed up by reserves Robert McDonnell and Cliodhna Manning in Tokyo.
The success continued for Phil Healy who won the Inspirational Performance on Irish Soil Award for her incredible battle against Rhasidat Adeleke in the National 200m final. Healy and Adeleke ran times of 22.83 and 22.84 respectively, with one-one hundredth of a second proving decisive on the day and in deciding this award.
Congratulations to all of our winners.
Full List of the 2021 Award Winners:
- U20 Irish Athlete of The Year: Rhasidat Adeleke
- U23 Irish Athlete of The Year: David Kenny & Darragh McElhinney
- Endurance Athlete of The Year: Brendan Boyce
- Track & Field Athlete of The Year: Thomas Barr
- Mountain Runner of The Year: Zak Hanna
- Ultra-Runner of The Year: Ed McGroarty
- Team of the Year: Mixed 4x400 Relay Olympic Finalists
- Inspirational Performance on Irish Soil: Phil Healy National 200M
- Master Athlete of the Year: Tommy Hughes
- Overall Athlete of The Year: Thomas Barr
- Official of the Year: Cyril Smyth
- Lifetime Services Award: John McDermott
- Special Recognition Award: Terry McHugh & Caroline O’Shea
- Services to Coaching Award: Lucy Moore
- Development Club of the Year: Lusk AC
- Performance Club of the Year: Dundrum South Dublin AC
- European Athletics Coaching Awards: Niamh Richardson & Shane McCormack
- European Athletics Women’s’ Leadership Award: Aisling Hoey