Rhys McClenaghan mural at South Street, Newtownards
THE start of a new year means the start of silverware.
We’ve seen the celebrations – Jim McGuinness’ Donegal lifting the Dr McKenna Cup, TT record holder Michael Dunlop crowned Irish Racer of the Year for the second time in a row and Stephen Baxter adding senior football trophy number 13 to his collection, this time with Carrick Rangers as they claimed a first trophy in 33 years with their County Antrim Shield success.
But very few can say they received the freedom of the borough and had a mural unveiled in their home town in January 2026. That is unless you are Olympic gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan.
Local artist “JoosiePops” aka Johnny Hamilton was the man responsible for the stunning South Street mural in Newtownards, but it wasn’t an overnight job.
“I’ve been in talks with Rhys about it since last March,” he told me in an interview for UTV. I wanted to do it after he won the Olympic gold medal, then he was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s honours list so I thought even more reason to do it and when it was announced he was getting the freedom of the borough I decided I would work towards tying it in with that date.”
Rhys was awarded the highest honour a council can bestow by receiving the freedom of Ards and North Down Borough Council. The official ceremony took place at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel at a private event with Mayor Gillian McCollum and other councillors.
And to celebrate his achievements further, the council put on an event at Ards Leisure Centre, where Rhys grew up and trains to this day. Five hundred people applied for free tickets to the event and they were treated to a Q&A about Rhys’ career to date and several displays from Origin gymnasts of all ages – the gymnastics club founded by Rhy’s coach Luke Carson which is based at Ards Leisure Centre – and a special performance on the pommel horse from Rhys himself.
Before the event got underway, Rhys visited his finished mural on South Street and “signed” it by spray painting his signature onto the wall.
“When you dream of winning Olympic gold you don’t imagine all these things will happen after it, it’s been amazing to have all these honours,” he told me. “When I perform on the world stage I’m always very proud to do it for everyone back home, I am very proud to have grown up in Newtownards. The community has always got behind me and it wasn’t until I came home from Paris and saw the reaction that I realised what it meant to them also and how many people it inspired.”
At just 26 years old Rhys has done it all – he’s been crowned Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic champion. But he’s not done yet. In fact, listening to Rhys is so inspirational because he always strives to get better. Last year was a write off with injuries and shoulder surgery but 2026 is a new chapter and one that could be the start of something special.
“The most world titles anyone has won on the pommel horse is three. I have two at the minute so if I was to reach for I could potentially become the greatest on the pommel horse, that would be an incredible achievement but I have to get there first,” he told me.
“Back to back Olympic goals is obviously the aim because we work in four year cycles gearing up to the Olympics but I have to get back to my best first and the next few World Cup events will be good at easing me in again this year. Then I have the Commonwealth Games after that.”
“When you achieve your lifetime goal it’s an amazing feeling but you also then need to reset – you need something to keep you motivated and get you up in the morning and get back training. I feel 2025 was a reset for me, not just with the surgery and everything but mentally resetting my goals. I feel my best could be yet to come, I have the potential to get better.”
Watch this space for even more silverware for Rhys this year.
With Rhys McClenaghan as he signed his new mural in Newtownards
You can catch up with the Jonathan Rea documentary on him and his family on ITVX
Another of our top sports stars who’s been receiving plenty of accolades recently is six time world superbike champion Jonathan Rea.
Following his retirement from full time racing at the end of last year he’s been honoured with awards to recognise his status within the sport. His achievements were unprecedented.
I had the privilege of compiling his life story for an apricot documentary for UTV. If you missed it in January.l you view on on the ITVX player or online.
It’s called “Jonathan Rea Born to Win”. In it we show the man behind the world champion, what got him there and why family is his greatest achievement.
We heard from his whole family and his two young sons in particular stole the show!
Jonathan has returned to Honda as a test rider for 2026 and will get the chance to compete in a couple of races as a wild card entry, so more silverware isn’t out of the question just yet!
With Adelaide Irish Motorcyclist of the Year for 2025 Michael Dunlop, above, and with his Joey Dunlop trophy, below
