Triathlete Paul McIntyre Expresses Humility Over Unsung Hero Award Recognition

Paul McIntyre, a triathlete from Nantwich, has expressed that he feels “truly grateful and humbled” by the recognition he has received as a nominee for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero Award. Having already secured the north-west of England unsung hero award, he is now a contender for the national title, which will be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday evening. Mr McIntyre established the Nantwich Triathlon Club in 2001. Additionally, he created The Dabbers Dash, a community running event designed to promote fitness among participants and facilitate engagement between local charities and the community. Regarding the moment he learned of his nomination, he stated, “It was an, ‘Oh my goodness, wow’ moment, I was completely blown away.” He recounted that winning the north-west of England award came as a complete surprise, particularly as BBC sports presenter Richard Askam delivered the news. Mr McIntyre had initially believed the film crew was there to record a segment on grassroots sports. Mr McIntyre commented, “[But] for that to happen, I was completely blown away.” He added, “This is a hobby, where I bring people along and hopefully exercise helps them and people in the community.” The recipient of the overall Unsung Hero Award is scheduled to be announced next week during the live broadcast of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 programme. This award acknowledges volunteers who contribute positively to their communities through grassroots sports initiatives. Mr McIntyre, who qualified in July of last year for the Iron Man 70.3 triathlon world championships, is presently in New Zealand and will therefore not attend the awards ceremony. However, he stated he intends to watch it later on iPlayer, describing it as “always thrilling.” He remarked, “There’s been some absolutely fantastic people who’ve been nominated for this award in the past, people who’ve won it.” He continued, “I’ve seen the competition – the things they’ve achieved, themselves and others, is absolutely marvellous. To be among those people is an immense honour, really.” He recalled that upon launching the club, he observed that individuals often felt daunted by the idea of combining running, cycling, and swimming, believing they needed to be “super fit” to participate. He expressed his hope that he has contributed to changing this perception. Should he also secure the national award, he indicated it would be an “out of this world” moment, akin to “a Charlie Bucket and the chocolate factory” experience. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.