Irish athletics supporters have six opportunities to get behind their sport in the public vote for the 2026 Olympic Sport Awards, with nominations spanning athletes, coaching, club participation and photography.
Kate O’Connor and Mark English are in contention for the individual honours, while Michael O’Connor, Ballymun Athletics Club, Athletics Ireland and photographer Sam Barnes also feature on the shortlist.
Kate O’Connor of Dundalk St. Gerard’s AC enjoyed an outstanding 2026, winning European heptathlon gold in Birmingham, Commonwealth heptathlon gold and World Indoor pentathlon bronze.
Following her world silver in Tokyo in 2025, another season of championship medals underlines her remarkable consistency. She is shortlisted alongside swimmer Ellen Walshe, rower Fiona Murtagh and cyclist Lara Gillespie.
Mark English: Male Athlete Of The Year
Image: Perri Williams
Finn Valley AC’s Mark English produced one of the finest seasons of his career, winning European 800m gold in Birmingham to become the first Irish man to claim a European outdoor athletics title.
A Diamond League victory in Shanghai and further Irish records added to a memorable year for the Donegal runner, whose continued progress is a credit to years of commitment. He is nominated alongside golfers Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
Michael O’Connor: Coach Of The Year
Image: Athletics Ireland
Michael O’Connor, Kate’s father and coach, is shortlisted alongside swimming coach Brian Sweeney and rowing coach Denise Walsh.
Helping Kate win Commonwealth and European heptathlon titles less than three weeks apart required careful preparation across seven demanding events. His nomination is welcome recognition of the knowledge and dedication behind her succes
Ballymun Athletics Club: Community Impact Award
Image: Lindie Naughton
Ballymun Athletics Club’s nomination brings the awards firmly into grassroots athletics.
They provides free juvenile participation, covering registration, insurance, kit, coaching and competition fees. Adult membership fees help fund that access, easing the financial pressure on families.
It is a generous, practical approach that gives more children the opportunity to enjoy athletics. For grassroots runners, this nomination celebrates the kind of club commitment that helps secure the sport’s future.
Athletics Ireland: High Performance Programme Of The Year
Image: Sam Barnes (Sportsfile)/Athletics Ireland
Athletics Ireland is nominated alongside Boxing Ireland, Golf Ireland and Swim Ireland, recognising the wider programme supporting Irish performances on the international stage.
With English and O’Connor also shortlisted individually, this category offers a chance to acknowledge the collective effort behind a successful period for Irish athletics, including the preparation and support that happens well before competition day.
Sam Barnes: Image Of The Year
Image: Sam Barnes (Sportsfile)
Photographer Sam Barnes is nominated for his image of Kate O’Connor competing in the high jump.
Sports photography gives a performance a life beyond the competition itself. A single frame can draw attention to the skill and physical demands of an event, giving supporters a moment to appreciate details that pass in an instant.
Barnes’s nomination brings that craft into the awards conversation and gives athletics another reason to celebrate. In this category, the vote is for the photographer, so supporters wishing to back the athletics entry should select Sam Barnes.
How To Vote
Visit the Olympic Sport Awards voting page, select your nominee in each relevant category, enter your email address and submit. You can vote across multiple categories.
The winners will be determined by a combination of public votes and the judging panel. They will be announced at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Saturday, 28 November 2026.
