The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month for April 2023 is weightlifter Thammy Nguyen.
The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month for April 2023 is weightlifter Thammy Nguyen.
This is the first occasion that a monthly winner has been recognised in the sport of weightlifting.
Thammy Nguyen earned her recognition at the European Weightlifting Championships in Armenia last month, winning a bronze medal and becoming the first Irish competitor to win a senior medal in the event.
Nguyen's dream now is to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games, preferably alongside her brother Nhat, the Irish number one in badminton who is aiming to compete in his second Olympics having appeared in his first three years ago.
Having been the first female weightlifter to represent Ireland at the world championships, back in 2015, Nguyen is no stranger to the standards she must reach to realise her Olympic dream.
Her performance in Armenia, when she became the first Irish woman to lift twice her own bodyweight en route to that bronze, has given her no small boost. She is in the world’s top 20 now and we wish her all the best in her bid to qualify for Paris.
Congratulations to Thammy Nguyen as the April winner of The Irish TImes Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month.
This year's winners of the Irish Times/Sport Ireland Women of the Month Awards:
January - Rhasidat Adeleke
February - Orla Prendergast
March - Rachel Blackmore
April - Thammy Nguyen