Gina Akpe-Moses (Athletics) has followed in the footsteps of Kellie Harrington and won an Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sports Woman of the Month Award.
In a magnificent achievement, Akpe-Moses won gold in the 100 metres at the European Under-20 Championships, Ireland’s first ever European women’s sprint title at under-20 to senior level.
Harrington won the award last month and is in the running to win the annual Irish Times/Sport Ireland award at the end of the year
“First up, we’re going for the mighty Kellie Harrington, an inspiring character in the best of times, but even more so these past few months, wrote the Irish Times.
“The irony is that after the 2019 she endured, Harrington would have been looking forward to 2020 more than most. It was last June when she had to withdraw from the final of the European Games after breaking her right hand, the injury also denying her the chance to defend the world title she had won in 2018 in India.
“When she returned to action six months later, her eyes were set on sealing a place in the Olympics, but it was during the qualifying tournament in London that the sporting world was, like everything else, locked down. And the Olympics, of course, were postponed until next year.
“Harrington will, no doubt, return to winning medals one day, but for now her reward is the appreciation of those whose lives she is helping every single day.
Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswomen of the Month Awards (2019/2020)
December: Fionnuala McCormack (Athletics)
January: Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal (Cycling)
February: Rachael Blackmore (Horse racing)
March: Diana Caldwell (Football)
April: Kellie Harrington (Boxing)
May: Orlagh Farmer (Gaelic Football)
June: Gina Akpe-Moses (Athletics)