Ireland's three most admired sports stars are boxers Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington and jockey Rachael Blackmore, according to Teneo’s Sport and Sponsorship Index for 2021.
Taylor, who moved to 20-0 as a professional and retained her WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts earlier this month, shared top spot with Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington, with both boxers claiming 16% each of the poll.
Aintree Grand National winner and Cheltenham festival champion jockey Blackmore, crowned BBC's World Sport Star of the Year on Sunday 24 hours after winning the 2021 RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award, was third on 9%.
Harrington’s gold medal in Tokyo was voted top Irish Sporting Achievement of the past 12 months, with one in five of 1,000 people surveyed selecting the Dubliner’s moment of glory as number one, edging out the Irish rugby team’s victory over New Zealand (19%).
Soccer and Gaelic games share top spot in Ireland’s favourite sport, both polling 18% each, with rugby third on 14%.
Nearly a quarter of all respondents (24%) voted for Team Ireland from the Tokyo Olympics as Team of the Year, with the men’s rugby team second and Team Ireland from the Paralympics in third spot.
