In a very successful weekend for the Irish horce racing superstar, Rachel Blackmore won the RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award and received the BBC World Sports Star of the Year the following day.

Beating out competition from household names in sport such as Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, Elaine Thompson-Herah and  Max Verstappen, Blackmore won the category decided by a public vote.

Although she flew over to England to attend the ceremony in person, delays at Manchester Airport meant she had to accept the award over video link.

"It was just an incredible year, the reaction has been brilliant. When you can bring a bit of joy to more people, that makes more special," she said.

"I feel very, very privileged to have had the year I've had. The support has been in incredible. I got such a kick out of being on the list of nominees. It's kind of overwhelming."

In a massive 2021 for the Tipperary jockey, she became the first woman to be crowned leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six winners, including the Champion Hurdle.

She then further broke gender barriers by also being the first woman to win the Grand National in April.

🗣️ "It far surpassed anything I could have imagined!"

What an incredible year for @RachaelBlackmor!

World Sport Star at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021 🏆

📲💻 Watch: https://t.co/rIosTy9Hhb#SPOTY live on @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/6Y6tzil7wv

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 19, 2021