IRISH TIMES/IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL World Boxing Champion, Katie Taylor, crowned Sportswoman of the Year
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World Boxing Champion, Katie Taylor, Crowned Sportswoman of the Year |
World boxing champion, Katie Taylor, was crowned The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Year 2008' today for retaining her title at the Women's World Championships in China in November. The twenty-two year old boxer was presented by Mary Davis of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia at a gala awards ceremony in Dublin where thirteen other sport stars were recognised for their outstanding achievements in the last year. Mary Peters received the first 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for winning the pentathlon gold medal in Munich in 1972 and securing her place in Olympic history. Ronnie Delaney, who was a gold medallist in the Olympic final in Melbourne in 1956, presented her award. Taylor won the prestigious overall award for her impressive performances on route to the Women's World Championships and for beating local favourite Cheng Dong 13-2 in the final. She scooped 'Boxer of the Tournament' at this fight and at four other major tournaments. This is the second time the Bray native has received this honour, having been named Sportswoman of the Year in 2007 for her gold from the European and World Championships in 2006. |
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"It's a great honour to receive this award, not just once but twice and to share the stage with these women who have worked and trained so hard this year," said Taylor. "I am very grateful for this acknowledgement." Taylor is currently awaiting the official announcement from the International Olympic Committee on whether women's boxing will be sanctioned as an Olympic sport in the London 2012 Olympics, where she hopes to represent Ireland. In the meantime, she is training for her match against the USA at the National Stadium on February 27th and to defend her Multi-Nations title at Stupino Stadium in Moscow on March 17th. Peters is the first female sporting icon to receive the 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' for her victory in Munich which is credited with briefly uniting the people of Northern Ireland during one of the most violent periods in its history. At the age of 33, she secured Britain's only gold medal inside the Olympic stadium. She scored 4,801 points, an improvement of 26 points on the previous world record. The event seized the imagination of people on both sides of the sectarian divide, a chasm she has sought to bridge ever since retiring from athletics. She was awarded an MBE in 1973 and a CBE in 1990, but her continued work on behalf of both sport and the tourist industry in the region has now earned her one of the highest possible honours: Dame Commander of the British Empire. "I was astounded when I first heard I had won this award. It has been thirty six years since my success in sport and I can't believe I am the first recipient of this award. Anything I've done for sport has been such a joy and pleasure and I have gotten so much back from it. The recognition I have received through my sport has helped charities such as the Mary Peters Trust which has helped over 4,000 up and coming sport stars to pursue their sport at a higher level. The charity has also built a track for the young people of Belfast and, at the moment, I am busy trying to get a sports museum together in Belfast." At the awards lunch, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and guest of honour, Mary Davis, said: "We are in the company of exceptional sporting talent today. Each of these women deserves our recognition for their willingness to battle against the odds, train hard and represent their country at tournaments in Europe and around the world. I congratulate Katie who we all hope to see compete in the London Games in 2012, she is a real inspiration. This year sixteen Irish female athletes travelled to Beijing as part of the Irish Olympic team and this, in addition to these ladies achievements, is really good news for Irish sport." John Tracey, CEO of The Irish Sports Council commented today on behalf of the awards sponsor, stating: "The women honoured today are outstanding athletes who have excelled in their chosen disciplines. We are proud of our association with them and delighted that the awards highlight their achievements in 2008." At the ceremony, Ms. Geraldine Kennedy, Editor, The Irish Times said: "Whether it was the Beijing Olympics, Ireland's top golf courses, the famous sod of Croke Park or the small confines of boxing rings around the globe, the sportswomen here today have thrilled and delighted us over the last 12 months. Our monthly award winners are a credit to the country and worthy of every plaudit that comes their way." Other high achievers commended at the awards included Olive Loughnane, the Cork woman who knocked ninety three seconds off her personal best to finish seventh in the twenty kilometre walk at the Beijing Olympics and Nina Carberry who had another memorable visit to Cheltenham, winning the Cross Country Chase for the second successive year. Leona and Lisa Maguire, thirteen year old twins from Co. Cavan, shared the stage for making it an all-Maguire affair in the final of the Irish Close at Westport. Emma Davis was recognised for becoming the first Irish athlete to qualify for the Olympic triathlon when she finished 15th in a field of 79 at the World Championships in Vancouver, while Sligo runner, Mary Cullen, was acknowledged for returning to form after a stress fracture (that ended her hopes for Beijing) and for finishing fourth in the European Cross-Country Championships in Brussels last month. The gala awards ceremony was attended by well known Irish sports stars and celebrities including Des Cahill, Mary Davis, Ronnie Delaney, Katie Taylor and Eamonn Coghlan. Other previous winners were Derval O'Rourke in 2006 and Gaelic football's Briege Corkery in 2005. Established in 2004, the aim of the Sports Woman of the Year awards is to recognise the abilities and achievements of women in Irish sports. The awards run over a twelve month period, with the judges selecting a winner each month for her ability to excel at sport. From the twelve monthly winners, the overall Sportswoman of the Year is selected and announced. The winner is decided by a judging panel, which is represented by individuals from The Irish Times, RTة, and the Evening Herald. Further details on the Sportswoman of the Year Awards can be found on www.irishtimes.com/events/sportswoman/
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