REVEALED: The winner of the JOE Sports Star of the Year for 2015 is…

It’s hard to argue with 86 medals.

That’s the haul that the Irish Special Olympics team brought home from this year’s World Games in Los Angeles, a truly remarkable performance from everyone involved. That medal haul included 26 gold medals, 29 silver medals and 31 bronze medals, with 16 of those medals collected on the final day of competition alone. Described by Team Ireland CEO Matt English as “one of the most successful World Games ever”, Team Ireland arrived home to a rapturous reception at Dublin Airport early August.

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** Special Olympics Team Ireland Departure to World Summer Games Los Angeles, Dublin Airport 21/7/2015 88 Irish athletes jetted to Los Angeles today (Tuesday) with dreams of a big performance at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. There was great excitement at Dublin Airport as the athletes and their coaches boarded their Aer Lingus flight with the team confident of success. The athletes were welcomed to the airport by Aer Lingus who are the official airline for Team Ireland. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Their efforts in LA were enough to earn them the JOE Sports Star of the Year Award ahead of an illustrious list of nominees that included Shane Lowry, Michael Conlan, AP McCoy and Conor McGregor, collecting more than 40% of over 8,000 votes.

Well deserved. https://twitter.com/SOIreland/status/674554959493468162 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc5v85TLZdQ

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REVEALED: The winner of the JOE Sports Star of the Year for 2015 is…

It’s hard to argue with 86 medals.

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