Maisie O’Shea reflects on Deaf Sports Personality of the Year recognition

An ‘unexpected’ but ‘proud moment’ is how England women’s deaf international Maisie O’Shea assesses being named the 2024 Deaf Sports Personality of the Year.

Earlier this month, O’Shea was accompanied by her family to the ceremony in Glasgow where it was revealed she had won the top prize, and the news came as something of a shock.

“I was debating whether I went to the ceremony in Scotland because it’s quite far to travel,” she said.

“They announced it in reverse order from third to first and I said to my mum and brother, ‘put the cameras away – you’re not going to need them’. My mum said, ‘I’m keeping it on because you never know’.” 

Honoured to have been voted as Deaf Sports Personality of the Year 2024🏆

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey! pic.twitter.com/yFA65B9H9N

— Maisie O’Shea (@MaisieOShea04) December 4, 2024

The year got underway with a warm weather training camp in Tenerife, which O’Shea – who also won the 2024 Deaf Champions League with a Spanish side CDPS Guadalajaraand – and England team-mate Faye Williams attended, alongside some of England’s other Para teams.

“We didn’t really know what to expect but we both came out of it at the end saying it was probably one of the best weeks we’ve ever had,” she recalled.

“We were training with the lads from the partially sighted team as well. As much as it was hard work and physically demanding, it was nice to have everyone together – not just us and the partially sighted team but the other squads as well like the blind women who were the only other women’s team there.”

And earlier in April, O’Shea and her team-mates received an invite to Wembley as England women’s senior team hosted Sweden – an experience which stands out as a highlight across the calendar year.

“We were all buzzing in the group chat saying, ‘wow – what an experience’,” she explained. “The Royal Box itself is special enough but then to go on to the pitch was next level.