After a long 2025-season of T100 racing, Great Britain’s Lucy Byram and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde have been voted Athletes of the Year by their fellow competitors. Wilde’s recognition comes as little surprise, while Byram’s award stands as a powerful and deeply emotional statement following the tragic loss of her partner.
The 26-year-old Byram lost her partner, Sam O’Shea, in the summer of 2025 after a fatal cycling accident. The devastating loss kept Byram out of competition from August onward, yet she made a remarkable return at the T100 Grand Final in December. And she did far more than just show up: Byram recorded the fastest bike split of the day and finished 11th overall, a result that secured her a top-ten position in the final standings.
As she crossed the finish line, Byram raised her fingers in tribute to her late partner. After the race, she spoke openly about her emotions, expressing how proud she was of the life she and O’Shea had built together over the past eight years.