31 March 2020
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Ireland’s World Rowing Champion and Tokyo Olympic favourite Sanita Pušpure has been named as Cork Person of the Month for March 2020
Single scull rowing world champion, Sanita was also recently chosen as the Irish Times / Sport Ireland’s Sports Woman of the Year, beating other world champions including boxer Katie Taylor for that honour. The two-time rowing world champion, European champion and Olympian is rowing better now than any time over the last five years.
Sanita came to Ireland from Latvia in 2006 and became an Irish citizen in 2011. She lives in Ballincollig with her husband Kaspar and children Patrick (12) and Daniela (11). Sanita was part of Ireland’s 2012 Olympic rowing team and qualified for the women’s single sculls at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Two-time world rowing champion and Irish Times/Sport Ireland “Sports Woman of the Year” Sanita Pušpure is March Cork Person of the Month. Sanita also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics., now postponed until the summer of 2021 at the latest. Pictured at the award presentation some weeks ago l/r Pat Lemasney, Southern; Tina Quinn, AM O’Sullivan PR; Manus O’Callaghan, Awards Organiser; Sanita Pušpure, Cork Person of the Month; George Duggan, Cork Crystal; Ken Horgan, Lexus Cork. Picture: Brian Lougheed.
Speaking about her success, Sanita said, “This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication that goes into representing Ireland at sporting events. I’m delighted to be named Cork Person of the Month and I am proud to have the support of the people of Cork behind me, once again.”
Cork Person of the Year awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan added, “All of Cork are wishing Sanita well in the future, as this two time world-champion seems to be in the form of her life.”
Sanita Pušpure’s name will now go forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at an awards lunch at year’s end.