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Limerick teenager and UCI Junior World Downhill Champion Oisin O'Callaghan last night won the RTÉ Sport 2020 Young Sportsperson of the Year award for his achievements on the world stage.
The young downhiller beat off the some serious contenders for the prestigious title.
Here were the contenders for the RTÉ Sport 2020 Young Sportsperson of the Year award.
🆠Aaron Hill (Snooker)
🆠Katelynn Phelan (Boxing)
🆠Keane Barry (Darts)
🆠Oisin Mullin (GAA Footbal)
🆠Oisin O'Callaghan (Downhill Cycling)
The Limerick teenager blasted down the 2.3km course on the rough terrain to finish in a time of 4:02.142, just over two seconds ahead of Great Britain's Daniel Slack and James Elliott (GB) in third.
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Oisin O'Callaghan has claimed a first ever downhill gold for Ireland at the Junior World Mountain Bike Championships today in Austria.
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During the programme Oisin said in an interview
"To make history in Ireland, to be the first one to be a downhill mountain bike world champion, was incredible,"
"Downhill is more of one person and the track, time-trial type of event rather than several people on the track racing against each other at the same time!.
"There's a laser at the start and when you cross that laser beam the time starts. When you cross the finish line the time stops. The tracks are typically three to four minutes. Whoever gets the fastest time with the least mistakes wins".
"It all started with seeing my Dad going out mountain biking. Living close to the Ballyhoura Mountains, it was natural to go out and have fun with my friends. It progressed from there."
He said "he regularly speaks to professional downhill mountain biker Steve Peat, the Sheffield man he idolised growing up".
"I've always looked up to Steve, who my Dad actually wrote an email to when I was really young for my birthday," O'Callaghan added.
"Since I won I've been talking to him the whole time.
"Ever since I was young my Dad has had to bring me away to the UK and Europe to ride tracks up to the standard that we race in the likes of World Cups. Now I'm able to ride a track that's up to standard to practice on.
"I'd like to be Junior World champion again."
🆠SAM BENNETT IN RUNNING FOR OVERALL AWARD
Cycling also had Sam Bennett listed as a contender for the overall title of 'RTE Sport 2020 Sportsperson of the Year' The other contenders that were up against Sam were
🆠CIARÃN KILKENNY (GAA Football) The Dublin footballer was named the 'Sunday Game Footballer of the Year'
🆠COLIN KEANE (Horse Racing) Ireland's champion flat jockey
🆠GEARÓID HEGARTY (GAA Hurling) Limerick wing-forward
🆠KATIE TAYLOR (Boxing) lightweight 'Female Fighter of the Year'
🆠SANITA PUSPURE (Rowing) European Rowing Champion
Katie Taylor emerged the winner
For cycling fans there was disappointment as Sam achievements in recent years and particularly winning the Green Jersey in last years Tour de France in a way that was spectacular, the fight he had to take the jersey from the incredible Peter Sagan who had made the Green Jersey his for the previous eight years. It was one of the great battles within cycling that will go into the history books.
Well done same, and I am pleasantly surprised with the support out there when I browsed the comments by the public this morning, many people also expressed the view that Sam should have won the award...
Some of the comments in the journal.ie this morning
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Link: https://www.the42.ie/rte-sportsperson-of-the-year-2020-5338192-Jan2021/
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The full program can be viewed on the RTE Player - link here