19 Dec - Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy is the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year
Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy is the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year
Dublin woman fought back from disappointment of 4th in London to claim silver in Rio
The Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Sport 2016 Award goes to Sonia O’Sullivan
Friday 16th December 2016 Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy has been crowned The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2016.
The 26 year old, claimed silver in the Women’s Laser Radial Class following a pulsating medal race at Guanabara Bay in Rio in August.
Murphy, from Rathfarnham in Dublin, displayed tremendous courage and skill to bounce back from the disappointment of a 4th place finish at the London Olympics in 2012.
“It’s amazing, this time four years ago I had just finished fourth and it was the hardest day of my life, but I said I was going to come back and try to get a medal. So to actually go and do it, it’s incredible” Murphy said shortly after her win.
Her success was Ireland’s first medal in sailing since David Wilkins and James Wilkinson won silver in the Flying Dutchman class in Moscow back in 1980
Murphy who became the first woman to win the Irish National Championships in 2010 and won Gold at the 2013 European Sailing Championship was the Sportswoman of the Month for August.
This is the 13th year of the awards and the sailor was among 16 monthly award winners – there were multiple winners on several occasions - nominated for the 2016 title.
One of Ireland’s greatest ever runners’, Sonia O’Sullivan, who won silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Sport 2016 Award.
Guest of honour Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald congratulated all the award winners on their magnificent sporting achievements and wished them continued success into the future.
“Every woman here today is a role model and an inspiration. And I know they will continue to be role models, not just throughout their sporting careers, but afterwards, hammering home the message that activity is good.”
“That team sports teach us to rely on others and be worthy of the reliance of others. That solo sports require a fierce continued dedication. That activity is its own reward. All of those things are important to women, and it is marvellous that The Irish Times has created such a simple, elegant way of celebrating success and sharing that success.”
The Sports Editor of The Irish Times Malachy Logan described the nominees as a group of extraordinary people who deserve all the kudos that come their way. He said there needed to be positive discrimination in the media towards the coverage of women’s sports.
“The impact they make on women’s sport is immense and the upward curve in participation and interest is primarily down to them. We owe a big debt to all of them, as well as their coaches, their families and partners and particularly Sport Ireland for nurturing their talents from a young age and funding many of them in their full time careers as athletes”
The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan congratulated Sport Ireland and The Irish Times for staging the awards which he said recognised the incredible contribution of Irish women in sport.
“Ireland’s sportswomen have once again made a hugely significant contribution to an excellent year for Irish sport and given us many wonderful memories over the last twelve months. Their continued success serves to enhance Ireland’s reputation abroad and to boost morale here at home.
“I would like to congratulate today’s winners and pay tribute to all of the coaches and support teams who have helped put Ireland on the sporting map in 2016.”
The CEO of Sport Ireland John Treacy said the body was delighted to again partner with The Irish Times for the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year Awards.
“This year has been a momentous one for Ireland’s sportswomen with the Olympics and Paralympics in particular showcasing the very best of Irish talent on the world stage, while performances in World and European championships and achievements in national events show that Irish athletes continue to achieve at the very highest level. I would like to congratulate all of today’s award recipients and thank each one of you for being such fine ambassadors for both your sport and your country in 2016.”
O’Sullivan receives Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Sport Award
Olympic silver medallist in the 5,000m at Sydney in 2000, World Champion over the same distance in Gothenburg in 1995 and two time World Cross Country Champion, Sonia O’Sullivan, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Sport 2016 Award.
The 47 year old from Cobh, established herself as one of the world’s top middle distance runners during the 90’s and competed in four Olympics between 1992 and 2004.
She won three gold medals and three silver at the European Championships between 1993 and 2002. Her 2,000m world record of 5.25.36 which she set in Edinburgh in 1994 still stands today.
O’Sullivan who lives in Melbourne with her husband Nic Bideau and their two teenage girls, retired at the end of the 2007 season.