2026 Olympic Sport Award Shortlist revealed

The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) today revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Team Ireland Olympic Sport Awards, with the public now invited to cast their votes and help decide this year’s winners.

The shortlist celebrates an outstanding year in Irish Olympic sport, recognising the athletes, teams, coaches and high-performance programmes who excelled in 2026, along with the events, images and community initiatives that made their mark.

Following the nomination phase, voting is now open across the shortlisted categories ahead of the Olympic Sport Awards ceremony on 28 November. 

Voting is open until 15 November.

Vote here

OLYMPIC SPORT AWARDS 2026 SHORTLIST

Olympic Sport Awards 2026 Shortlist

Female Athlete of the Year, sponsored by Allianz

• Lara Gillespie
• Kate O’Connor
• Ellen Walshe
• Fiona Murtagh

Male Athlete of the Year, sponsored by Allianz

• Mark English
• Rory McIlroy
• Shane Lowry

Team of the Year, sponsored by Flogas

• Mags Cremen & Zoe Hyde
• Irish Senior Eventing Team
• Irish Men’s Hockey Team

Coach of the Year, sponsored by Key Patent Innovations

• Brian Sweeney
• Michael O’Connor
• Denise Walsh

Rising Star of the Year, sponsored by Sport Ireland

• John Shortt
• Ben Lynch
• Sean Butterly
• Sophia Young
• Emer Heverin

High Performance Programme of the Year, sponsored by Deloitte

• Athletics Ireland
• Boxing Ireland
• Swim Ireland
• Golf Ireland

Event of the Year, sponsored by McKvr

• Sailing World Championships, Dún Laoghaire
• Rás na mBan
• Dublin Horse Show and Aga Khan Trophy Centenary

Community Impact Award, sponsored by SPAR/EUROSPAR

• Ballymun Athletics Club
• Monkstown Boxing Club, Belfast
• James Gray, Jobstown Boxing Club

Image of the Year, sponsored by Fiat

• Sam Barnes: Kate O’Connor, high jump
• Bryan Keane (Inpho): Mona McSharry, Irish Open Swimming Championships
• Tyler Miller: Kristian Jubani, Crumlin Boxing Club
• Lorraine O’Sullivan: Dublin Horse Show, RDS
• Andrew Conan: Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, 49er

The Olympic Sport Awards recognise achievement and impact throughout the Irish Olympic sporting community, from performances on the international stage to the coaches, programmes, events and communities underpinning Irish sport.

Supporters are encouraged to get behind their favourites and cast their votes by the 15 November. The Awards ceremony on 28 November.