Leading award for Loughnane

OLIVE LOUGHNANE, silver medallist in the 20k walk at the world championships in Berlin, was named Ireland’s ‘Athlete of the Year’ at an awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on Saturday night.

Loughnane, who competes for Loughrea Athletic Club and lives in Cork became the fourth Irish athlete to claim a medal at a world outdoor track and field championships, joining Eamonn Coghlan, Sonia O’Sullivan and her former race walking team mate, Gillian O’Sullivan.

She was also presented with the ‘Performance of the Year Award’ which is decided by a panel of Ireland’s top athletics journalists and then completed the treble by winning the ‘Walker of the Year Award’.