Loughnane wins monthly award

Olive Loughnane has scooped The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Month Award’ for August for her superb performance in the 20km Walk at the World Championships in Berlin last month.

The 33-year-old from Carrabane, Co Galway and living in Coachford, Co Cork, took silver, finishing just 49 seconds behind defending champion Olga Kaniskina of Russia in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 58 seconds.

In soaring temperatures, Loughnane held off the challenge of China’s Hong Liu with 12 seconds to spare to take her first major championship medal, walking a season’s best.

Loughnane lives in Cork with her husband Martin Corkery, a former Cork footballer, and young daughter Eimear. She is only the fourth Irish athlete ever to have won a World Championship medal, joining Eamonn Coghlan (gold in 1983), Sonia O’Sullivan (silver in 1993 and gold in 1995) and Gillian O’Sullivan (silver in 2003), also in the 20km walk.

Established in 2004, the Sportswoman of the Month award recognises the abilities and achievements of women in Irish sports, with the judges selecting a winner each month for her ability to excel at sport.

The monthly and annual winners are decided by a judging panel, which is represented by individuals from The Irish Times, RTÉ and the Evening Herald.