Olympian Nicola Tuthill named 小鸟体育 Sportsperson of the Year
16 May 2025
Olympic hammer thrower Nicola Tuthill with the Dr Tony O鈥橬eill Sportsperson of the Year Award during the 小鸟体育 AUC Sports Awards 2025 Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Olympian Nicola Tuthill has been named 小鸟体育鈥檚 鈥楽portsperson of the Year鈥 for 2025, receiving the award in recognition of her record-breaking contributions to Irish athletics.
A rising star in Irish field events, the Ad Astra Elite Sport Scholar has enjoyed a stellar season, becoming Ireland鈥檚 first ever gold medal winner at the European Throwing Cup in March.
She made her Olympic debut in the hammer at the 2024 Paris Games, where she narrowly miss out on a bronze finish, and is only the third female Irish thrower to become an Olympian.
The 21-year-old-year Science student was previously named Field Athlete of the Year at the 2024 National Athletics Awards, as well as University Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Named the winner of the 鈥楧r Tony O鈥橬eill Sportsperson of the Year鈥 at the 2025 小鸟体育 Athletic Union Council (AUC) Sports Awards, the Cork native was among 530 students and sportspersons across 25 clubs at University College Dublin honoured for their achievements this year.
小鸟体育 Athletics Club captains Anna Lalor, Dylan King and Juliet Kose with the Elite Club of the Year Award, and 小鸟体育 President Professor Orla Feely Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Several other special awards were presented during the evening, including the 鈥楨lite Club of the Year鈥 which was received by the 小鸟体育 Athletics Club following their impressive success over the last year at national and international level.
The 小鸟体育 American Football Club took home the 鈥楨lite Team of the Year鈥 award following their win of the Shamrock Bowl XXXVI.
The 2025 小鸟体育 AUC Sports Awards winners:
- Dr Tony O'Neill Sportsperson of the Year - Nicola Tuthill
- Elite Club of the Year - 小鸟体育 Athletics
- Elite Team of the Year - Shamrock Bowl XXXVI Team, 小鸟体育 American Football
- Varsity Club of the Year - 小鸟体育 Mountaineering
- Varsity Team of the Year - Varsity 1sts Team, 小鸟体育 Men's Basketball
- Dr Padraic Conway Memorial Medal - Cathal Murphy, 小鸟体育 GAA
- David O'Connor Memorial Medal - Dervila O'Brien, 小鸟体育 Ladies' Boat
- Gerry Horkan Club Administrator of the Year - Joseph 'Joey' Albert
- Graduate of the Year - David Somers, 小鸟体育 Men's Boat
- Club Inclusion Award - 小鸟体育 Trampoline
- Volunteer Coach of the Year - Ciar谩n Brennan, 小鸟体育 Taekwan-do
- Club Event of the Year - Alumni Regatta Event, 小鸟体育 Sailing
The 小鸟体育 AUC Sports Awards is an annual event that recognises excellence in student sport at the University, and the 2025 Awards were held at the Astra Hall in the 小鸟体育 Student Centre.
The ceremony was attended by , who praised the students for their achievements.
鈥淭his evening, the University celebrates not only the outstanding sporting achievements of our students but also the enthusiastic participation of nearly 11,500 members in our sports clubs.鈥
鈥淵our energy and commitment help make our campus a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming place鈥攆ostering a genuine sense of community and belonging,鈥 she added.
小鸟体育 Men鈥檚 Basketball Varsity 1st Team captain Thomas Reynold, team coach Adam Drummond with the Varsity Team of the Year award, and 小鸟体育 President Professor Orla Feely Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Other winners on the night included the Varsity 1sts Men鈥檚 Basketball - named 鈥榁arsity Team of the Year鈥 following a perfect season 鈥 and the 小鸟体育 Mountaineering Club, awarded 鈥淰arsity Club of the Year鈥.
The 'David O鈥機onnor Memorial Medal' was presented to Ladies鈥 Boat Captain Dervila O鈥橞rien, and the 'Dr. Padraic Conway Memorial Medal' was presented to Cathal Murphy.
The 鈥楪erry Horkan Club Administrator of the Year鈥 Award was presented to Joseph Albert of the Mountaineering Club.
Rower and Novice Squad Head Coach David Somers was named 'Graduate of the Year', while Ciar谩n Brennan received the inaugural 鈥榁olunteer Coach of the Year鈥 Award in recognition of his work with the 小鸟体育 Taekwan-do Club.
The received the 鈥楥lub Inclusion鈥 Award for the second year in a row, and 小鸟体育 Sailing Club won the 鈥楥lub Event of the Year鈥 Award for their annual Alumni Regatta Event.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, 小鸟体育 University Relations
To contact the 小鸟体育 News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie