County Roscommon native named 2024 European Masters Sprint Athlete of the Year
The European award has capped off an incredible year for Boyle's John McDermott.
80-year-old Boyle native John McDermott has capped off an incredible year on the track after being named 2024 European Masters Sprint Athlete of the Year.
A member of Sligo Athletics Club, John won three gold medals at both the World Masters T & F championships in Gothenburg, Sweden in August, and at the European Indoor Championships at Torun in Poland last March.
In Sweden, he excelled in the 80m hurdles, 200m hurdles and 400m while in Poland, he was first on the podium for the 400m, 60m hurdles and the pentathlon.
John also rewrote records: he set the European indoor record in the 400m with 1:11.08 and the outdoor world record in the 200m hurdles with a time of 36.06.
In awarding him the 2024 European Masters Sprint Athlete of the Year, the European Masters Athletics Body said John's performances "confirmed a consistency and determination that make him an inspirational figure for all master athletes".
