Belgian Sportsman of the Year explained

The Belgian Sportsman of the Year (; ;) is elected at the end of each year by professional sportjournalists and former winners,[1] annually since 1967. A Belgian Sportswoman of the Year title has been given out since 1975. Top winners include Ingrid Berghmans (8 wins), Kim Clijsters (8) and Eddy Merckx (6).[2]

More categories were added in 1997, with the Belgian Sportsteam of the Year, 1998 with the Belgian Talent of the Year, 2010 with the Belgian Paralympic Athlete of the Year and lastly in 2011 the Belgian Coach of the Year.[3]

The youngest male winner of the Belgian sportsman of the year is Remco Evenepoel who won the award at the age of 19.[4] The youngest female winner is Carine Verbauwen, who won the award at the age of 13.[5]

List of winners

YearMenWomenTeamPromising TalentParalympicCoach
WinnerSportWinnerSportWinnerSportWinnerSportWinnerSportWinnerSport
2023[6] Remco Evenepoel (3)cyclingLotte KopeckycyclingBelgium women's national basketball teambasketballAlec SegaertcyclingMaxime CarabinathleticsRachid Mezianebasketball
2022[7] Remco Evenepoel (2)cyclingNafissatou Thiam (4)athleticsMen's 4×400 metres relay (4)athleticsCian UijtdebroekscyclingMichèle George (2)equestrianRoger Lespagnard (3)athletics
2021[8] Wout van Aert (2)cyclingNina Derwael (3)gymnasticsBelgium national field hockey team (5)field hockeyThibau NyscyclingPeter Genyn (3)athleticsShane McLeod (2)field hockey
2020[9] Wout van AertcyclingEmma MeessemanbasketballBelgium women's national basketball teambasketballCharles De KetelaerefootballJoachim Gérard (3)tennisPhilip Mestdaghbasketball
2019[10] Remco EvenepoelcyclingNina Derwael (2)gymnasticsBelgium national field hockey team (4)field hockeyYari VerschaerenfootballJoachim Gérard (2)tennisShane McLeodfield hockey
2018Eden HazardfootballNina Derwael (1)gymnasticsBelgium national field hockey team (3)field hockeyRemco EvenepoelcyclingPeter Genyn (2)athleticsRoberto Martinezfootball
2017David GoffintennisNafissatou Thiam (3)athleticsBelgium Davis Cup team (3)tennisLotte KopeckycyclingPeter GenynathleticsRoger Lespagnard (2)athletics
2016Greg Van AvermaetcyclingNafissatou Thiam (2)athleticsBelgium national field hockey team (2)field hockeyLouise CartonathleticsLaurens Devostable tennisRoger Lespagnardathletics
2015Kevin De BruynefootballDelfine PersoonboxingBelgium Davis Cup team (2)tennisTiesj BenootcyclingMarieke Vervoort (2)athleticsHein Vanhaezebrouckfootball
2014Thibaut CourtoisfootballNafissatou ThiamathleticsBelgium national football team (2)footballDivock OrigifootballMichèle GeorgeequestrianMarc Wilmots (2)football
2013Frederik Van LierdetriathlonKirsten FlipkenstennisBelgium national football teamfootballNafissatou ThiamathleticsJoachim Gérard (1)tennisMarc Wilmotsfootball
2012Tom Boonen (3)cyclingEvi Van AckersailingBelgium national field hockey teamfield hockeyKimmer CoppejanstennisMarieke VervoortathleticsJacques Borlée (2)athletics
2011Philippe Gilbert (3)cyclingKim Clijsters (8)tennisMen's 4×400 metres relay (3)athleticsThomas Van der PlaetsenathleticsWim DecleircyclingJacques Borléeathletics
2010Philippe Gilbert (2)cyclingKim Clijsters (7)tennisMen's 4×400 metres relay (2)athleticsLuca BrecelsnookerSven Decaessteckerswimmingnot awarded
2009Philippe GilbertcyclingKim Clijsters (6)tennisMen's 4×400 metres relayathleticsRomelu Lukakufootballnot awarded
2008Sven Nyscyclo-crossTia HellebautathleticsWomen's 4×100 metres relay (3)athleticsElise Matthysenswimming
2007Tom Boonen (2)[11] cyclingJustine Henin-Hardenne (4)[12] tennisWomen's 4×100 metres relay (2)athleticsDominique Cornucycling
2006Stefan Everts (5)motocrossJustine Henin-Hardenne (3)tennisBelgium Fed Cup team (2)tennisYoris Grandjeanswimming
2005Tom BoonencyclingKim Clijsters (5)tennisBelgium national under-21 football teamfootballNiels Albertcyclo-cross
2004Stefan Everts (4)motocrossJustine Henin-Hardenne (2)tennisWomen's 4×100 metres relayathleticsAagje Vanwalleghemgymnastics
2003Stefan Everts (3)motocrossJustine Henin-HardennetennisBelgian Motocross team (2)motocrossKirsten Flipkenstennis
2002Stefan Everts (2)motocrossKim Clijsters (4)tennisLa Villette Charleroitable tennisThomas Buffelfootball
2001Stefan EvertsmotocrossKim Clijsters (3)tennisBelgium Fed Cup teamtennisJurgen Van den Broeckcycling
2000Joël SmetsmotocrossKim Clijsters (2)tennisRSC AnderlechtfootballBart Aernoutscyclo-cross
1999Luc Van Lierde (2)triathlonKim ClijsterstennisBelgium Davis Cup teamtennisBart Wellenscyclo-cross
1998Frédérik Deburghgraeve (3)swimmingDominique MonamitennisBelgian Motocross teammotocrossKim Clijsterstennis
1997Luc Van LierdetriathlonGella Vandecaveye (2)judoNoliko Maaseikvolleyballnot awarded
1996Frédérik Deburghgraeve (2)swimmingUlla Werbrouckjudonot awarded
1995Frédérik DeburghgraeveswimmingBrigitte Becue (2)swimming
1994Jean-Michel Saive (2)table tennisBrigitte Becueswimming
1993Vincent Rousseau (2)athleticsGella Vandecaveyejudo
1992Georges Jobé (2)motocrossAnnelies Bredaelrowing
1991Jean-Michel Saivetable tennisSabine Appelmans (2)tennis
1990Rudy DhaenenscyclingSabine Appelmanstennis
1989Thierry BoutsenmotorsportIngrid Berghmans (8)judo
1988Eric GeboersmotocrossIngrid Berghmans (7)judo
1987Georges JobémotocrossIngrid Lempereurswimming
1986William Van DijckathleticsIngrid Berghmans (6)judo
1985Gaston Rahier
Vincent Rousseau
motocross
athletics
Ingrid Berghmans (5)judo
1984Claude CriquielioncyclingIngrid Berghmans (4)judo
1983Eddy AnnysathleticsIngrid Berghmans (3)judo
1982Jacky IckxmotorsportIngrid Berghmans (2)judo
1981Freddy MaertenscyclingAnnie Lambrechtsroller skating
1980Robert Van De Walle (2)judoIngrid Berghmansjudo
1979Robert Van De WallejudoCarine Verbauwen (3)swimming
1978Raymond CeulemansbilliardsCarine Verbauwen (2)swimming
1977Michel PollentiercyclingAnne-Marie Pira (2)athletics
1976Ivo Van DammeathleticsAnne-Marie Piraathletics
1975Bruno BrokkenathleticsCarine Verbauwenswimming
1974Eddy Merckx (6)cyclingnot awarded
1973Eddy Merckx (5)cycling
1972Eddy Merckx (4)cycling
1971Eddy Merckx (3)cycling
1970Eddy Merckx (2)cycling
1969Eddy Merckxcycling
1968Serge Redingweightlifting
1967Ferdinand Brackecycling

Breakdown of winners by sport

Men

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
23 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1990, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
10 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
6 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1993
3 1995, 1996, 1998
3 1997, 1999, 2013
3 2014, 2015, 2018
2 1979, 1980
2 1982, 1989
2 1991, 1994
1 1968
1 1978
1 2008
1 2017

Women

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
16 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
11 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1997
7 1976, 1977, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
6 1975, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1994, 1995
3 2018, 2019, 2021
1 1981
1 1992
1 2012
1 2015
1 2020
1 2023

Team

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
7 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022
5 1999, 2001, 2006, 2015, 2017
5 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
4 2000, 2005, 2013, 2014
2 1998, 2003
2 2020, 2023
1 1997
1 2002

Talent

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
8 2001, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
5 2002, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2020
3 1999, 2000, 2005
3 1998, 2003, 2012
3 2011, 2013, 2016
2 2006, 2008
1 2004
1 2010

Paralympic

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
6 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023
3 2013, 2019, 2020
2 2014, 2022
1 2010
1 2011
1 2016

Coach

width=100Sportwidth=150Number of winsWinning years
5 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2022
4 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
2 2019, 2021
2 2020, 2023

Overall

width=100Sportwidth=150Total number of winsMenWomenTeamTalentParalympicCoachFirst winLast win
34 6 7 8 2 6 5 1975 2023
33 23 1 0 8 1 0 1967 2023
28 1 16 5 3 3 0 1990 2020
16 3 0 4 5 0 4 2000 2020
13 2 11 0 0 0 0 1979 1997
12 10 0 2 0 0 0 1985 2006
12 3 6 0 2 1 0 1975 2010
7 0 0 5 0 0 2 2012 2021
5 0 1 2 0 0 2 2020 2023
4 1 0 0 3 0 0 1999 2008
4 2 0 1 0 1 0 1991 2016
4 0 3 0 1 0 0 2004 2021
3 3 0 0 0 0 0 1997 2013
2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1982 1989
2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2014 2022
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1978
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2015
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1981
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1992
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2012
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2010
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1997
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1968

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.sport.be/sportgala/nl/nieuws/article.html?Article_ID=875684, Nieuws
  2. http://www.sportgala.be/ Sportgala.be; Official website of the organisation awarding the award
  3. http://www.paralympic.org/Media_Centre/News/General_News/2010_12_20_a.html Decaesstecker Named Belgian Paralympic Athlete of the Year
  4. https://www.demorgen.be/sport/remco-evenepoel-jongste-sportman-van-het-jaar-ooit-nina-derwael-opnieuw-sportvrouw-van-het-jaar~ba0c0042/ Remco Evenepoel jongste Sportman van het Jaar ooit, Nina Derwael opnieuw Sportvrouw van het Jaar, Article in Dutch
  5. https://www.sportspreker.be/spreker/carine-verbauwen/, Carine Verbauwen, Article in Dutch
  6. https://sporza.be/nl/2023/12/04/evenepoel-en-kopecky-zijn-sportman-en-sportvrouw-van-het-jaar-ook-belgian-cats-vallen-in-de-prijzen~1701689651209/
  7. https://sporza.be/nl/2023/01/02/remco-evenepoel-en-nafi-thiam-kronen-zich-tot-sportman-en-vrouw-van-het-jaar~1672674345542/
  8. https://sporza.be/nl/2021/12/19/sportgala-2021-de-volledige-uitslagen-in-alle-categorieen-op-een-rijtje~1639938735170/ Sportgala 2021: de volledige uitslagen in alle categorieën op een rijtje
  9. https://sporza.be/nl/matches/ander-nieuws/2020-12/van-aert-en-meesseman-zijn-sportman-en-sportvrouw-belgian-cats-grote-slokop~1608198232964/ Van Aert en Meesseman zijn Sportman en Sportvrouw, Belgian Cats grote slokop
  10. https://sporza.be/nl/matches/ander-nieuws/2019-12/sportgala-2019/ 19-jarigen aan de macht: Evenepoel en Derwael zijn Sportman en Sportvrouw
  11. News: Tom Boonen Sportman van het Jaar . . 2007-12-18.
  12. News: Justine Henin Sportvrouw van het Jaar . . 2007-12-18.