Dec 21,2024
Ireland's two-time gold medallist Kellie Harrington has been crowned the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year for 2024.
Harrington, who previously won the award in 2018, saw off competition from Rhasidat Adeleke and Rachael Blackmore, the latter having pipped her to the prize in 2021.
In Paris this summer, the Dubliner joined Pat O'Callaghan and the rowing duo of Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy to win gold medals for Ireland at successive Olympics.
In a memorable final bout at Roland Garros, she defeated China's Yang Wenlu on a 4:1 split decision to take Ireland's fourth gold of the Games.
"Sometimes you have to have the lows to come back to the top," Harrington said after receiving the award. "It's really tough at the top. You have a target on your back, everyone wants to take your spot. It's really hard when you climb the mountain to come back down and climb it again.
"Poeple think I might be mad but it is who I am and that's what made me a double Olympic champion."
Katie George Dunleavy, alongside her pilots Eve McCrystal and Linda Kelly, took home the team of the year.
In Paris, Dunleavy took home a gold and a silver medal alongside her new pilot Kelly and a silver with long-time partner McCrystal. She subsequently won two world championship golds in Zurich alongside Kelly.
