Ricki Wynne literally scaled new heights in 2022

We're back to that time of the year where we look back and look forward at the same time and in the Observer sports department, we're no different! Or maybe we know what works as we return with our popular sports review of 2022 over the next few weeks.

Like last year, we've asked some of the county's brightest sports stars to look back over the last 12 months along with some of those journalists on the sports beat around the county.

Here ultramarathoner Ricki Wynne looks back on a remarkable year that literally saw him scale new heights as he set some unique sporting history.

Highlight of the Year

My highlight of the year has to be when I broke the world record with my challenge on Croagh Patrick! I managed to raise €37000 for IMNDA so that was a very proud moment for me! And to have so many people travel down from Leitrim on the day to support me was unreal! And the homecoming!!! Now that’s something I will never forget - it was a pretty special weekend! 

Lowlight of the Year

I think sports wise it has to be the World Cup being held in Qatar! In a country that it’s basically illegal if you don’t conform to what they see as “normal” The World Cup is a sport that is supposed to unite people, not divide them! Unfortunately sometimes in sport it’s just all about the money!!

With the controversy over the staging of the World Cup in Qatar, what’s your view on the role of sport and politics/social issues- should they mix? Should they be kept separate?

I think they should be kept separate but it can be very hard to do so! At the end of the day it all comes down to money and the government are the people that control the money!!

Ricki celebrates with the Irish flag after finishing the Ultra Marathon World Championships in Mont Blanc during the Summer

Personality of the Year

Caitriona Jennings from Letterkenny! She won the European 50km championships in Spain! She set the new Irish record and it’s a shame she’s not more recognised for her achievements!

Team of the Year

Women’s Irish Soccer team! In such a short space of time they went from getting changed in airport toilets to qualifying for a World Cup, a feat that the men’s team have not managed to do since 2002!

What are the big challenges facing Leitrim sport in 2023?

Funding will always be a big issue! The fact that we live in the lowest populated county doesn’t help especially now when so many young people are emigrating again!

Person that made me go wow in 2022

Obviously I'm going to look at my own sport so it has to be when Killian Jornet broke 20 hours in the UTMB. A gruelling 170 km race in the Alps, a feat the seemed impossible!! The sport of Ultrarunning is just getting faster every year! It just shows me that no human is limited!! 

One thing I’d do to make sport better in 2023

For my own sport I’d like to see more funding in place for mountain runners in Ireland! With more funding we could be able to compete against the best athletes in the world! In the Ultra Running World Championships, Ireland could only afford to send three athletes whereas most other countries were able to send 31 athletes!

One to watch in 2023

Me!!! Anyone that knows me knows that I always say you have to back yourself all the way!! So keep watching and Keep Showing Up!!

Check out next week's Observer for more in the sporting review of the year from Aine Tighe, Shane Mallon, Darren Mulvey, PJ Leddy & John Connolly