Katie Taylor will return home to Ireland for Christmas having been named the Irish Times / Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for a fifth time.
The Bray boxer took her number of successive victories as a professional to 17 this year and she holds the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO lightweight belts.
She defeated Delfine Persoon in August and followed that up with victory over Miriam Gutierrez in November.
Taylor saw off competition from the likes of Kellie Harrington, Sanita Puspure and Rachael Blackmore to win the award.
After dominating amateur boxing and winning Olympic gold in 2012, Taylor failed to earn a medal in Brazil four years later.
So a professional career was always going to be a little bit of a journey into the unknown.
That makes what Taylor has achieved even sweeter.
"The last few years, turning pro, came with this unexpected joy, this unexpected dream really. It's definitely been the most enjoyable few years of my whole career," she said at today's awards ceremony.
"This is coming after my lowest point as well at the Rio Olympics, so it really has been an amazing few years for me."
Taking on the best fighters is something the Bray native wants to embrace.
"I think you have to risk failure to actually be great at any sport or in any part of life really. I think the biggest failure in life is actually not risking failure. You have to go out and actually risk. To be great at any sport you have to do that. That's how anyone becomes great. I want to be the greatest of all time."
Taylor is based in Connecticut in the United States where she trains and admits the pull of home is always there.
"I have a great life out here as well, I have great friends out here. The biggest sacrifice for me is being away from family all year round, being in Connecticut. But I have got a great life and you have to make the big sacrifices at times to reach your destiny."
And the money which has flowed in the professional game is welcome, but it's not what drives the 34-year-old.
"No, it's not what motivates me at all. You obviously want to make the most money and get the most out of the sport, but it's just all about legacy for myself. I just want to make history in my sport. I want to continue to break boundaries. That's what it's always been about for me. I am always willing to take pay cuts if need be to make big fights!"
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