Three Irish cyclists have been shortlisted in the RTÉ Sports Awards 2022. Ronan Grimes makes the cut in the Sportsperson of the Year category while Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal are shortlisted in the Team of the Year category.
While Dunlevy and McCrystal have been at the top of their paracycling category for years, 2022 was the season when Grimes's star really went into orbit.
In May he won the European TT title in the C4 category before going to the Paracycling Road World Championships in Canada in August where he won gold in the road race before claiming bronze in the TT. He then closed his season in Paris in October with a silver medal in the individual pursuit at the track Worlds, capping an incredible campaign.
Grimes is one of 10 shortlisted athletes in contention for the 'sportsperson of the year award'. Also among the nominees are: jockey Rachel Blackmore, boxer Amy Broadhurst, Kerry footballer David Clifford, distance runner Ciara Mageen, Irish soccer captain Katie McCabe, gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Katie Taylor and Leinster and Ireland rugby star Josh van der Flier.
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For Dunlevy and McCrystal, their nomination comes as no surprise as they won the 'team of the year' category at the RTÉ Awards last year after striking Paralympic gold again - twice - at the Tokyo Games.
This year the duo went to the Paracycling Road World Championships in August as hot favourities to win again and claimed gold in the road race while coming away from the TT with a silver medal.
The two Irish riders are up against some very stiff opposition for the award this year, including: Irish men's rugby team, Irish women's boxing team, Kerry footballers, Kilkenny camogie team, Limerick hurlers, Meath women's footballers, men's lightweight double skulls rowers, Republic of Ireland soccer team and Shamrock Rovers.
The RTÉ Sports Awards will be broadcast live on Saturday, December 17th. The award winners to be announced on the night include RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year, RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year and RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year.
