Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan has won the RTE Athlete of the Year award.
The Down native upset the odds when he beat bookies’ favorite Gatti Taylor to take the prize.
A Co Down man clocked an impressive 15.100 at the World Gymnastics Championships to take gold.
It was certain that The Bray Bomber would retain her prize after she took revenge on Chantelle Cameron on November 25.
But that was not to be the case for the Wicklow native, as the 24-year-old smiled as he received the bell.
The 24-year-old from Newtownards was Ireland’s first gymnastics world champion when he won gold in the same event in Liverpool last year.
He has now qualified, and will be aiming for more success at Paris 2024.
In addition to retaining his world title, McClenaghan booked his place in the 2024 Olympic Games in the French capital.
Two years ago, McClenaghan’s Olympic debut ended in heartbreak when he fell from the pommel horse in Tokyo.
Speaking after becoming a two-time world champion, he said he wanted to make a different kind of memory in Paris.
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He told RTE: “I’m going to my second Olympics and hopefully I can perform like today. I reached the final last time, the first Irish person to do so.”
“Now we’ll come back and try to take home a medal.
“This is definitely my goal after proving that I can be a two-time world champion.
“I have my eyes on that top podium [in Paris] If that changes, you can slap me on the back of the head and tell me to act wisely.”
The seven-person shortlist included Johnny Sexton, Katie McCabe, Katie Taylor, Paul Townend, Róisín Ní Ryan and Aaron Gillan.