Thomas Barr is the June winner of the Waterford Sports Awards, in association with WLR and the Granville Hotel.

June saw Thomas play an integral role in a piece of Irish athletics history - as he powered home to a gold medal for Team Ireland at the European Athletics Championships at the
Stadio Olimpico in Rome - alongside teammates Chris O’Donnell, Rhadisat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley.

It was the first time that any Irish athletes other than Sonia O’Sullivan had won a gold medal at the championships in 80 years - and followed on from a bronze medal achieved at the
World Championships in the Bahamas in May.

Speaking on accepting the award, the Ferrybank AC man said: “I’m honoured to win this award and really appreciate it. It’s been a busy month, but a very very successful one. It’s something that I’m very grateful for at this stage of my career because I thought that my medal days might have been beyond me! I’m lucky to still be part of such an amazing team
at the moment.”

June also saw Barr win a 12th national 400m mens’ hurdle title - and all roads now lead to the Olympic Games in Paris for the Dunmore native.

“It’s given me a whole fresh outlook. I’ve got 12 national titles, I’ve travelled the world with a sport that I started out as a hobby. I never really had any dreams or aspirations of making it
to an international level at all and just enjoyed every minute of it. I rode the wave, got on the train and kept going. I’ve always loved just challenging myself and look at where it’s landed
me. This sport has taken me to places that I could’ve never even imagined.”

He spoke to Jordan Norris on the Last Leg ahead of Paris 2024.

To listen to the full interview, press the play button on the photo above.