Katie Taylor is Ireland's Most Admired Athlete for seventh consecutive year
TOPPING THE POLLS: In one of the sporting moments of the year, certainly in an Irish context, Katie Taylor gained revenge and the world undisputed super lightweight championship title against Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena in Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Teneo Sport and Sponsorhip Index (TSSI) have released their topline findings of 2023 and Katie Taylor has topped the list as Ireland Most Admired Athlete for a seventh consecutive year.
The TSSI is a comprehensive 1,000 person nationally representative survey with quotas imposed across gender, region, age and social class. Teneo's Sports Advisory Team and iReach Insights conduct the research and examines the Irish general public's attitudes towards sport and their sporting heroes. This is the view of the general public and not a survey of sports fans. This is the 14th year of the TSSI and the research was carried out between November 23 and December 12 2023.
Taylor topped the table with a massive 20% of the vote with former Leinster and Ireland rugby player Johnny Sexton and Connacht and Ireland's Bundee Aki tied for second place with 9% of the vote.
Jockey Rachael Blackmore dropped out of the top three for the first time in two years and is fourth with 6% of the vote ahead of Ireland and Munster's Peter O'Mahony who captained Munster to their first trophy in 12 years when they won the 2023 URC final.
The Republic of Ireland women's football captain Katie McCabe is the third most admired female athlete with 4% of the vote and took a share of sixth overall alongside golfer Rory McIlroy, Kerry footballer David Clifford and Conor McGregor whose popularity is at a five year high.
In the Team of the Year 2023 category Andy Farrell's Ireland Men's team topped the poll with 29% of the vote. Ireland won the Six Nations Grand Slam and made it to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup where they were knocked out by old foes New Zealand.
The 2022 Team of the Year the Republic of Ireland Women's Football Team were second with 24% of the vote in a year where they made history by playing in their first ever World Cup where they played hosts Australia in the tournament curtain raiser in front of a crowd of 75,784.
In third place was the Irish Rowing team with 11% of the vote. They had an excellent World Rowing Championship where they brought home four medals with seven crews securing Olympic 2024 qualification.
There was a tie in the Greatest Sporting Achievement category with 25% of the vote going to both Katie Taylor for her win over Chantelle Cameron in the Three Arena and the Ireland Men's rugby team who defeated England on St Patrick's weekend to win the Grand Slam.
Coming in third place was Limerick who overcame Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final to complete the four-in-a-row with 6%.
Ireland's favourite sport is still Gaelic Games who on 21% with soccer just behind them on 21% with rugby getting 14%. Tennis was again the fourth favourite sport but was joined this year by athletics both on 4%.
When they looked at sports which the Irish public "like", the depth and variety of the country's interest becomes apparent. The big three sports top the pile but tennis (23%), golf (20%), athletics(18%) and horse racing (16%) are very popular. There was a newcomer to the list with American Football/NFL being liked by 8% of people.
Katie Taylor once again topped a top this time in the Most Memorable Sporting Moment when her hand was lifted in the ring at the Three Arena and declared winner of her fight against Chantelle Cameron getting 19%.
Second and third place both feature the Ireland Men's Rugby team with 18% of the votes for the celebrations at the final whistle of the Grand Slam decider against England and 17% going to the teams "Zombie" soundtrack after the win over reigning World Champions South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France in Paris.
The Republic of Ireland Women's football team standing for the national anthem in their World Cup debut against Australia in front of a record crowd was fourth on 10%.
The Olympics in Paris is the most anticipated sporting event of 2024 with 21% of people voting for it. The Irish men's rugby team taking the field for the Six Nations was in second with 17% with Euro 2024 in Germany in third with 15% despite Ireland not taking part in the tournament.
11% of the public are looking forward to see how the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship unfolds in 2024.
Rob Pearson Head of Sponsorship at Teneo Ireland speaks about the amount and variety of successes in sport in Ireland and impacts on the nation “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 is reflected in the TSSI findings.
“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 sports people, an inspiration to many and a role model to boys and girls across the country.
“The Rugby World Cup was viewed by millions so it’s no surprise to see men’s rugby team are voted Team of the Year, and the individual contributions of Bundee Aki, Peter O’Mahony and the retiring Jonathan Sexton were also called out by the public. Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe makes her entry on to the list of most admired athletes and as the team builds on its World Cup debut, it’s unlikely to be long before we see other players feature prominently on the list.
“There is little to split Gaelic Games and soccer as the country’s favourite sport, but what is most interesting is the breadth of sports being enjoyed by the nation. Outstanding track and field performances by Irish teams and individuals in 2023 have placed athletics fourth on the list of favourite sports and with the Paris Olympics the most anticipated event of next year there is a lot to look forward to.”
1. Katie Taylor 20 %
2.= Jonathan Sexton 9 %
2.= Bundee Aki 9 %
4. Rachael Blackmore 6 %
5. Peter O’Mahony 5 %
6.= Rory McIlroy 4 %
6.= Katie McCabe 4 %
6.= David Clifford 4 %
6.= Conor McGregor 4 %
1. Ireland Men’s Rugby Team 29 %
2. Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team 25 %
3. Ireland Rowing Team 11 %
4. Limerick Senior Hurling Team 8 %
5. Munster Rugby Team 7 %
6. Dublin Men’s Senior Football Team 6 %
6. Dublin Women’s Senior Football Team 6 %
1. Gaelic Games – 21%
2. Soccer – 20%
3. Rugby – 14%
4.= Tennis – 4%
4. = Athletics – 4%
6.= Horse Racing – 3%
6. = Golf – 3%
6. = Basketball – 3%
1. Ireland men’s rugby team win the Grand Slam and Six Nations Championship 25%
1. Katie Taylor becomes two-weight undisputed world champion after her victory over Chantelle Cameron 25%
2. Limerick defeat Kilkenny in the men’s All-Ireland hurling final to complete the four in a row 6%
3. Dublin defeat Kerry to win the men’s All-Ireland football final 5%
1. 2024 Paris Olympics 21 %
2. Six Nations Rugby Championship 17 %
3. Euro 2024 15 %
4. All-Ireland Hurling Championship 11 %
5. All-Ireland Football Championship 7 %
1. Katie Taylor’s hand being lifted and her celebrations after her victory over Chantelle Cameron at the 3 Arena 19%
2. The final whistle as Ireland beat England at the Aviva Stadium to secure the Grand Slam on St Patrick’s weekend 18%
3. Ireland fans and players celebrate beating reigning World champions South Africa at the Rugby World Cup in Paris to the backdrop of Zombie 17%
4. Ireland women’s football team stand for the anthem on their World Cup debut in the tournament opener in front of 75,784 against hosts Australia in Sydney 10%
5. Rachael Blackmore’s interview and the scenes after Honeysuckle’s victory in the Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle, in memory of trainer Henry de Bromhead’s late son Jack 8%
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