Egan’s delight at winning FIS Volunteer Award 2020
By Caitlin Rundle
LUCAN man Tom Egan, spoke of his surprise and delight at being recently declared the winner of the ‘2020 Federation of Irish Sport Volunteer of the Year’ Award for Kildare.
For the past 50 years, Egan has demonstrated fierce dedication to the sport of canoeing, from participating in races to managing teams and volunteering.
Lucan man Tom Egan with his ‘Federation of Irish Sport Volunteer of the Year’ Award
This work paved the way for him to be nominated, and eventually receive the prestigious award.
Recalling the moment he was notified about his award win, Egan told The Echo “I saw a number I didn’t recognize coming up on my mobile phone, and it was a lady from the Federation of Irish Sport.
”I was pinching myself for a while because it’s a national award and they’re not given out very lightly.
“It was fantastic to win and again, many thanks to the Federation of Irish Sport and to the EBS” he added.
Egan began his canoeing career at Grade Ten Canoe Club in Lucan before moving to Salmon Leap where he has been club manager for years.
Formerly the National Team Manager for Canoe Slalom Ireland, he decided to move his focus from Canoe Slalom to Canoe Sprint and Marathon.
Egan has also been a member of the Canoe Sprint Team Ireland Committee and is the longest serving Team Manager of Canoe Sprint Ireland to date
Over the years he has also managed other teams, including the Finnish Olympic canoe sprint team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have sports,” Egan said. In his acceptance speech given in a virtual ceremony, Egan re emphasized the importance of volunteers, saying that they “are the lifeblood of sports.”
“To all volunteers in sport, I would ask you to continue your great work and I would encourage everybody to become a volunteer,” Egan said.
He thanked the Federation of Irish Sport and EBS, but also applauded his loved ones.
Indeed Egan stressed the motivator for his 50 year journey has been the support of his children, Jenny and Peter, and his wife, Angie.
He said that his children’s involvement in canoeing was “a big plus” for him, as both have found success in their own rights.
Jenny Egan finished the 2019 sprint racing season ranked Number One in the World in the ICF Senior Women’s K1 5000m while Peter Egan won gold in the ICF World Masters Canoe Marathon Championships.
“They [his family] have been so, so supportive of me all over the years, you know when I maybe should’ve been doing things around the house,” Egan said.
“To have spent so much time in this sport, you would have to have family support. My wife, my daughter and my son have been fantastic and support me all through this journey of canoeing and kayaking and it’s been fantastic and I still love it.”
This year, Egan had to face the huge challenges of volunteering in the midst of a pandemic when all national canoe races and 95% of international races were cancelled.
“Every place is closed and it’s tough on athletes. They have to find water where they can go and train” said Egan.
Hopefully this will be the last lockdown we will have to go through and again, it all depends on our people, our communities, to listen to what the government is saying.”
“You know, you could dip your head down and just get totally overcome by the whole thing and let your mind be overcome, but I’ve stayed quite positive, positive but careful” he said.
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