Remco Evenepoel succeeds himself as Sportsman of the Year
Remco Evenepoel succeeded himself as Sportsman of the Year on Sunday evening in the Skyhall at Brussels Airport, at the Sports Gala of Sportspress (the Belgian Professional Association of Sports Journalists). The 24-year-old cyclist has now won the trophy four times (previously also in 2019, 2022 and 2023). Rally driver Thierry Neuville (second) and runner Bashir Abdi (third) were the two other names on the shortlist.
Evenepoel had an absolute top year in 2024. Schepdaal’s Aerokogel was not only crowned Olympic champion in time trial and on the road at the Paris Olympics last summer, but also extended his world title against the clock in Zurich at the end of September. He also made his long-awaited debut in the Tour de France in 2024, in which he won a time trial and finished third in the final results (after winner Tadej Pogacar and runner-up Jonas Vingegaard). Furthermore, Evenepoel also won the general classification in the Tour of the Algarve and finished second in Paris-Nice (after Matteo Jorgenson). The Soudal Quick-Step rider is currently recovering after an accident during training.
Evenepoel wins the Sportsman of the Year trophy for the third year in a row and was also the best in 2019. Only cycling icon Eddy Merckx (six) and motocross legend Stefan Everts (five) do better.
Neuville and Abdi also wrote Belgian sports history in 2024: Neuville became world rally champion for the first time in his career at the end of November, and Abdi won Olympic silver in the marathon at the Olympic Games.
Rash:
1. Remco EVENEPOEL (cycling) 948
2. Thierry NEUVILLE (rally) 583
3. Bashir ABDI (athletics) 558
4. Alexander DOOM (athletics) 269
5. Bart SWINGS (speed skating/inline skating) 96
© BELGIUM
Nafi Thiam is Sportswoman of the Year for the fifth time
Heptathlete Nafi Thiam has won the trophy for Sportswoman of the Year for the fifth time in her career. The Olympic heptathlon champion won ahead of (track) cyclist Lotte Kopecky (second) and her fellow heptathlete Noor Vidts (third).
Beforehand, both Kopecky and Thiam had a strong claim to the Sportswoman of the Year trophy. The 30-year-old Thiam became Olympic heptathlon champion for the third time in a row in 2024. At the European Championships in Rome she won the title in the same discipline. The heptathlete trains in South Africa and was not present at the Sports Gala. Her mother Aida-Daniele Denisty received the trophy.
The 29-year-old Kopecky won Olympic bronze in the road race in Paris and succeeded himself as world champion on the road in Zurich. The SD Worx-Protime rider also won the final classification in the UAE Tour, the Tour of Britain, the Tour de Romandie and the Simac Ladies Tour. She won a stage in the Tour of Italy (second in the final standings), the Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix. At the European Championships in Limburg she won gold against the clock. Kopecky was also very successful in track cycling in 2024.
The 28-year-old Vidts won the bronze at the Olympic heptathlon in Paris, just like at the European Championships in Rome. De Vilvoorde also won gold in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow (where other world top players such as Thiam were missing).
Thiam can call herself Sportswoman of the Year for the fifth time. She previously received the recognition in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2022. Only Ingrid Berghmans (judo) and Kim Clijsters (tennis) are doing better, with eight victories each. Kopecky received the trophy for the first time last year.
Rash:
1. Nafi THIAM (athletic) 911
2. Lotte KOPECKY ((track) cycling) 828
3. Norwegian VIDTS (athletics) 363
4. Emma MEESSEMAN (basket) 327
5. Gabriella WILLEMS (judo) 183
© BELGIUM
Sven Vanthourenhout receives the trophy for Coach of the Year
Sven Vanthourenhout is the Coach of the Year 2024. The now former cycling national coach won ahead of athletics trainers Michaël Van der Plaetsen (second) and Jacques Borlée (third).
The 43-year-old Vanthourenhout resigned as cycling national coach at the end of last year. The West Flemish has been associated with the Belgian cycling federation since 2017, initially as national coach for the cyclo-cross riders, later he combined that position with the task of sporting manager for the road cyclists (men’s promises and elites). In that position, Vanthourenhout achieved some great results with the Belgian team. Last summer, for example, the Olympic Games in Paris were a huge success with a historic double for Remco Evenepoel (gold in the time and road trial) and Wout van Aert (bronze in the time trial). At the end of September at the World Cup in Zurich, his last assignment as national coach, Evenepoel extended his world title against the clock.
Van der Plaetsen helped Nafi Thiam win a third consecutive heptathlon title at the Olympic Games in Paris – an absolute feat. Borlée has been associated with the Belgian Tornados (4×400 meters athletics men) for years, where he achieved one top result after another with his sons Dylan, Jonathan and Kevin. In 2024, the Belgian Tornados won gold at the World Indoor Championships and the European Championships, and they finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris. The 67-year-old Borlée previously received the recognition in 2011 and 2012.
-Vanthourenhout succeeds Frenchman Rachid Meziane on the honors list, who won the award in 2023 as national coach of the Belgian basketball women (Belgian Cats).
Rash:
1. Sven VANTHOURENHOUT (cycling) 687
2. Michael VAN DER PLAETSEN (athletics) 481
3. Jacques BORLEE (athletics) 362
4. Rachid MEZIANE (basketball) 325
5. Kenny DE KETELE/Tim CARSWELL (track cycling) 219
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe as rally duo Team of the Year
Rally driver Thierry Neuville and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe have been named Team of the Year 2024 as a rally duo. They finished second ahead of the Belgian Tornados (4×400 meters athletics men), and the Belgian Cats (basketball women), third. At the end of November, Neuville and his co-driver Wydaeghe were crowned world rally champion for the first time in his career.
The Belgian Tornados also won plenty of medals in 2024, including gold at the World Indoor Championships (Jonathan Sacoor, Dylan Borlée, Christian Iguacel and Alexander Doom) and gold at the European Championships (Jonathan Sacoor, Robin Vanderbemden, Dylan Borlée and Alexander Doom ). At the Olympic Games in Paris, they just missed the podium in fourth place (Jonathan Sacoor, Dylan Borlée, Kevin Borlée and Florent Mabille). The Tornados previously received the recognition in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2022.
The Belgian Cats, who were crowned European champions in 2023, gave basketball-loving Belgium an unforgettable summer. Under the impetus of spearhead Emma Meesseman, the Belgian basketball women played some heroic matches at the Olympic Games in France. We just missed out on getting a medal, finishing fourth. The Cats previously won the award in 2020 and 2023.
Rash:
1. Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE (rally) 565
2. BELGIAN TORNADOS (athletics) 552
3. BELGIAN CATS (basket) 523
4. ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK (cycling) 274
5. RED PANTHERS (hockey) 271
Jarno Widar wins prize for Promise of the Year
Jarno Widar received the award for Promise of the Year 2024. The 19-year-old cycling talent beat NBA basketball player Ajay Mitchell (second) and swimmer Sarah Dumont (third).
Widar showed that he has a lot to offer in the Lotto Development Team last year. In June, for example, he achieved great success with a final victory in the Giro d’Italia Next Gen. In July he also won the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta-Mont Blanc.
Widar succeeds fellow cyclist Alec Segaert on the honors list. He is currently on a training camp with his team and was not present at the Sports Gala. In a video message he said that the recognition is “very gratifying”.
Rash:
1. Jarno WIDAR (cycling) 503
2. Ajay MITCHELL (basket) 471
3. Sarah DUMONT (swimming) 421
4. Lucas COENEN (motocross) 361
5. Malick FOFANA (football) 211
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