Record-breaking athlete Ciara Mageean has been named the 2023 BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.
The Portaferry runner had an impressive year, setting new national records and hitting form ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Mageean, a European and Commonwealth 1500m silver medallist, knocked over two seconds off Sonia O’Sullivan’s 29-year Irish mile record in July.
That made her the fifth fastest athlete in history over the distance.
Mageean broke the Irish 1500m record, before going on to break it again, and also set a new Irish 800m record.
In August, she finished just outside the medals, in fourth place, in what is regarded as one of the best-ever line-ups for a women’s 1500m final at the World Championships.
That race was won by defending champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon, who presented Mageean with the BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year trophy.
“I’m thrilled to receive this award, especially with the calibre of athletes that we have in Northern Ireland being just phenomenal,” Mageean said.
“I can’t thank everybody enough. This is just a reflection on the performances that I’ve had, but I wouldn’t be here without the support of everybody at home.
“I’m away a lot racing, but I love coming back home because it reminds me what I do it for.
“I want to thank everybody in our community for being behind me every step of the way because, honestly, if sheer will of support could get me a global medal, I know that everybody screaming at the TV would have gotten me that gold. I’m truly blessed to be from our wee part of the world.”
Neil Brittain, BBC Sport NI executive editor, said: “It has been an exceptional 12 months for local athletes with success at both national and international level.
“In 2023, Ciara Mageean has excelled on the world stage. In a hugely competitive year, she is a worthy winner of this award – both for her record-breaking achievements on the track and for her position as a role model for young people across the country.”
The judging panel for the award was Olympic champion Lady Mary Peters, All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winner Oisin McConville, four-time Paralympic champion Michael McKillop, Ireland’s most capped sportswoman Shirley McCay, Northern Ireland’s record appearance-maker Julie Nelson, BBC Sport NI executive editor Neil Brittain and BBC Sport NI football commentator Thomas Kane.
