Irish boxing phenomenon Katie Taylor has secured the title of Ireland's most popular athlete for the seventh consecutive year. The accolade was determined through the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index (TSSI), a comprehensive survey conducted by Teneo’s Sports Advisory team and iReach Insights.
The survey, representing the general public's sentiments towards sports and athletes, took place from November 23 to December 12, 2022. Taylor received 20% admiration this year, with Irish rugby players Jonathan Sexton and Bundee Aki sharing the second spot at 9% each.
Rob Pearson, Head of Sponsorship at Teneo Ireland, highlighted the remarkable success of Irish athletes in 2023, including Taylor's heroic victory.
“From a springtime Grand Slam to Katie Taylor’s recent heroic victory, we have been absolutely spoiled by the success of Irish athletes and teams in 2023. The sheer amount and variety of these successes and the impact they had on the nation are reflected in the TSSI findings, he said.
“We are running out of ways to adequately describe the phenomenon that is Katie Taylor, Ireland’s Most Admired Athlete for a seventh successive year. She is without doubt one of our greatest ever sportspeople, an inspiration to many, and a role model to boys and girls across the country."
The 2023 Teneo Sport & Sponsorship Index (#tssi23) launched today reveals the public's views on the sporting year. @katietaylor remains undefeated as Most Admired Athlete, men's @irishrugby is named Team of the Year and the @olympics is the event we are Most Looking Forward to pic.twitter.com/CG8qjpH88j
— Teneo Ireland (@TeneoIreland) December 20, 2023
Jockey Rachael Blackmore, who had consistently ranked in the top three, fell to fourth place with 6% of the vote. Ireland rugby international Peter O'Mahony, captain of Munster's victorious United Rugby Championship team, secured fifth place, ending the province’s 12-year wait for a major trophy.
Republic of Ireland women’s football captain Katie McCabe claimed the third spot among female athletes, sharing sixth place overall with golfer Rory McIlroy, Kerry footballer David Clifford, and former UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
McGregor was the last holder of the title in 2016.
Andy Farrell's Ireland rugby team was named Team of the Year, receiving 29% of the vote, while the Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team secured second place with 25%, following their World Cup exploits.
The greatest sporting achievements of 2023 were a tie between Katie Taylor's recent victory over Chantelle Cameron and Ireland's home Grand Slam win in March. They both received 25% of the vote.
Gaelic Games maintained its status as the nation's favourite sport with a score of 21%, closely followed by soccer at 20% and rugby at 14%. Tennis and athletics shared the fourth spot at 4%.
The 2024 Paris Olympics take centre stage as the most anticipated sporting event with 21% of the vote, followed by the Ireland men’s rugby team’s return to the Six Nations at 17%, and Euro 2024 in Germany at 15%.
More information can be found here
