The seven-strong shortlist for the RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year has been announced.
The 2023 nominees include a retired Irish rugby star, a football star who continues to define what a captain should be, a boxer who took the sport back to new heights, the hurler of the year, a jockey with the Midas -Touch and the world champions in gymnastics and paraswimming.
Joanne Cantwell and Darragh Maloney will present the RTÉ Sport Awards 2023 live from Studio 4 on RTÉ on Saturday December 16.
The awards, which will be presented on the evening live on RTÉ One in front of an audience of Irish sports stars, include RTÉ Sport Athlete of the Year, RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year and RTÉ Sport Young Athlete of the year .
The winners will be selected by an independent panel of experts from across the Irish sports media and performance world.
RTÉ Sport Sportsman of the Year nominees:
Johnny Sexton
While the Leinster and Ireland star may not have had the fairytale sendoff he had dreamed of, there was still plenty to celebrate in his retirement year.
Sexton captained Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, helped them to a famous victory over New Zealand and led Leinster to the Champions Cup final before bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career.
Katie McCabe
Katie McCabe led the Republic of Ireland women's team to their first major final after qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, before becoming the first Irish woman to ever score a goal in the tournament. She also played a starring role in Ireland's successful Nations League campaign, achieving promotion with a 100 percent winning record.
She made up to 200 appearances in the Arsenal shirt and played a key role for the Gunners as they won the Women's League Cup and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Katie Taylor
Just when you start to think that Katie Taylor has no more to achieve in boxing, she somehow finds another level to break new ground and achieve another milestone.
Taylor made a late decision to move up another weight level to secure an undisputed world title at a second weight level, and first fought against champion Chantelle Cameron in May, when she narrowly lost by a majority decision. There is no denying that the Bray bomber won the rematch with Cameron last month to become undisputed two-weight champion.
Rhys McClenaghan
At the tender age of 24, Rhys McClenaghan became a two-time world champion after winning the gold medal in the pommel horse at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The Irish Olympian secured his place at the 2024 Games in Paris.
McClenaghan also won gold on the European stage, winning his second European Pommel Horse Championships gold.
Paul Townend
2023 was a banner year for Paul Townend, who further cemented his status as a racing great.
Townend won his third Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Galopin Des Champs and lit up Cheltenham with victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Arkle. He also guided Galopin Des Champs to the Irish Gold Cup title and claimed his sixth Champion Jockey title.
Róisín Ní Riain
Paralympic swimmer Róisín Ní Riain has become such a familiar part of the podium that it's easy to forget she's still 18 years old.
The Limerick swimmer already has the experience of the Tokyo Paralympics and secured her place at next summer's Paris Games by winning gold and silver at this year's World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, while also completing her diploma with her Training harmonized.
Aaron Gillane
Aaron Gillane continues to do his part to keep Limerick's trophy carpenters employed.
The right corner-forward helped his county to their fourth consecutive All-Ireland title, fifth consecutive Munster title, was personally named to the All-Stars team for the fourth year in a row and was named GAA-GPA All for the first time -Star Hurler of the Year. All in all, not a bad 2023.
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