The winners will be announced on Sunday 19 December during a ceremony organized in Schelle. For men, Bashir Abdi (athletics), Matthias Casse (judo) and Wout van Aert (cycling) compete for the title of Sportsman of the year, while Nina Derwael (gymnastics), Emma Meesseman (basketball) and Nafi Thiam ( athletics) are in the running for the title of Sportswoman of the Year.
Bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in the marathon, Bashir Abdi broke the European record when he won in Rotterdam. Services which have already earned the Ghent at the end of the year the Sports Merit Trophy and the Flemish Giant’s Trophy (Vlaamse Reus). Matthias Casse also won bronze, in judo, in -81kg, this summer at the Olympics. He is also the reigning world champion and vice-European champion. Wout van Aert, winner last year, has won the victories this season again on the road. The Jumbo-Visma rider also won silver in the Olympic Games road road race and the same metal in the Worlds time trial in Leuven. Van Aert was crowned with the Vélo de Cristal and was 3rd in the Vélo d’Or at the end of the year.
Among the women, the two Olympic champions, Nafi Thiam (in heptathlon) and Nina Derwael (in gymnastics beam) are accompanied by Emma Meesseman, crowned last year in this Sports Gala, victorious in the Euroleague of women’s basketball with her club Yekaterinburg and bronze medalist with the Belgian Cats at the Euro, then 7th at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Belgian Cats, who won last year, are still among the three for the Team of the Year trophy alongside the Olympic hockey champions, the Red Lions and the national show jumping team, medalist of bronze in jumping at the Olympics.
Among the Espoirs, Thibau Nys (cyclocross), Nina Sterckx (weightlifting) and Florian Vermeersch (cycling) are appointed to succeed Bruges footballer Charles De Ketelaere ahead of Thibau Nys.
In coaching, Nafi Thiam’s loyal mentor Roger Lespagnard has his place alongside Red Lions coach New Zealander Shane McLeod and Union football coach Felice Mazzu. The coach of the Belgian Cats, Philip Mestdagh was acclaimed last year.
Peter Genyn (athletics), already honored with the Flemish Giant at the end of the year, Michèle George (para-dressage) or Joachim Gérard (wheelchair tennis), elected last year, will be the new Paralympian of the year.
The jury is made up of professional sports journalists, members of Sportspress.be, and the former winners of the trophy who are no longer active.
