Will Paul O’Donovan Win RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year 2024?

The RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award is the most prestigious individual sporting accolade in Ireland. As 2024 approaches, speculation is mounting over who will take home the title this year. One of the frontrunners is rower Paul O’Donovan.

O’Donovan’s Credentials

O’Donovan has firmly established himself as one of Ireland’s greatest ever athletes. He won gold in the lightweight double sculls at the 2016 Rio Olympics alongside his brother Gary. In 2020, he went one better and claimed Olympic gold in the same event alongside Fintan McCarthy.

Now in 2024, O’Donovan has won a second Olympic gold medal in the men’s single sculls event in Paris, thus cementing his legacy as Ireland’s most successful rower.

O’Donovan is no stranger to the RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award. He was nominated in 2016 and 2017. He and his lightweight double sculls pair teammate Fintan McCarthy won the RTÉ Sport Team of the Year award in 2022.

Competition

However, O’Donovan faces stiff competition. Boxers Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor are in the running, along with Rhys McClenaghan and Daniel Wiffen. Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan upset Taylor in 2023 to claim his first Sports Personality of the Year title, and he will be hard to look past again.

Will Paul O’Donovan win his first RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award as a solo athlete? 1xbet.com is giving odds of 1.533/1 or 65.20% in favor of this happening.

Public Support

Judging by social media, O’Donovan has plenty of public support. His humorous personality and down-to-earth nature have made him a fan favorite. Many believe it is about time he claimed the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year crown.

However, other figures like McClenaghan also have massive public backing.

What Factors Might Influence the Voting?

There are a lot of factors that play a part in who will win the RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award. Olympic success is one of them, and athletes who win gold at the Olympics are usually on track to be a strong contender for the RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year. Major championship wins are also a good clue as to who might win. This has helped golfer Rory McIlroy cruise to a win in the past.

Other factors like individual brilliance and a popular personality all help. When an athlete dominates their sport and is an overall nice person, it tends to sway the voters. Voters also love a good story and redemption arc. If an athlete has fought their demons and won, they appear to voters, and if they are suitably humble in the media, that also helps their cause.

Paul O’Donovan is undoubtedly a worthy favorite for the 2024 RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award. Given his Olympic gold win, he will be extremely difficult to overlook. However, with so many Irish athletes having had a strong year, it promises to be a closely fought race. O’Donovan has the talent but he will need to be at his very best to hold off his rivals and finally claim the famous trophy.