Katie Taylor named RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year
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Katie Taylor named RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year

KATIE TAYLOR has been named RTÉ's Sportsperson of the Year for 2020.

It's in fact the second time she's received the award, after winning in 2012 following her Olympic gold medal in 2012.

The Bray boxer beat off competition from the likes of cyclist Sam Bennett, jockey Colin Keane, footballer Ciarán Kilkenny, Limerick hurler Gearóid Hegarty and rower Sanita Puspure.

Taylor, who enjoyed an emphatic 2020 after first defeating Belgian rival Delfine Persoon in a pulsating rematch before getting the better of challenger Miriam Gutierrez, described 2020 as her "best year yet."

"I'm looking forward to an even bigger year this year," Taylor said.

"It was the same for everyone really - very, very challenging times. I was fortunate enough to have two big fights lined up.

"I just kept myself in the gym throughout the whole year really, working on my craft, and I came out on top."

Taylor's rematch victory over Persoon was chosen as the most memorable Irish sporting moment of 2020 with 32% of the vote in the annual Teneo Sport and Sponsorship index, a comprehensive 1,000-person national survey whose results were released on Tuesday, followed by Sam Bennett’s green-jersey win at the Tour de France (15%).

Elsewhere during the awards, the Young Sportsperson of the Year gong went to mountain biker Oisin O’Callaghan.

The Team of the Year award was won by the Limerick senior hurling team after their All-Ireland hurling success, while their manager John Kiely won the Manager of the Year award.