Verstappen, the first Dutch world champion in Formula 1, was preferred over BMX rider Niek Kimmann and track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen, who both took Olympic gold in Japan last summer. Lavreysen even took three places: two golds and one bronze.
Verstappen was also named Sportsman of the Year in 2016. In that year he recorded his first Formula 1 victory.
Sportswoman of the Year
The women’s prize went to Sifan Hassan. The athlete won two Olympic gold in Tokyo. Short track speedster Suzanne Schulting, who was in a class of his own at the World Championships in Dordrecht this year, and cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten (good for a gold medal in Tokyo) also had a chance at the title. Hassan was also chosen Sportswoman of the Year at the last Sports Gala in 2019.
“This is very special to me,” Hassan said in a response to the camera of the NOS. The athlete was unable to attend the Sports Gala because she had tested positive for corona.
Hassan was the first athlete to combine the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters at an Olympic Games. She completed that unique trilogy with three medals. Only Fanny Blankers-Koen won more Olympic medals for the Netherlands in athletics. She won four golds at the 1948 London Games.
Sifan Hassan receives the award for Sportswoman of the Year during the NOC*NSF Sports Gala.
ⓒ AP
The Dutch track sprinters have been named Sports Team of the Year for the second time. Harrie Lavreysen, Jeffrey Hoogland, Roy van den Berg and Matthijs Büchli confirmed their longstanding supremacy in the team sprint last summer in Japan, by also winning Olympic gold. The track cyclists were also chosen as Sports Team of the Year at the 2018 Sportgala.
“Good job guys, we got it!”
Van den Berg received the Jaap Eden award on behalf of the sprint team. “The others are at training camp. Well done guys, we’ve got it!” said Van den Berg.
Paralympic Athlete
Jetze Plat (para-cycling and para-triathlon). The born Amsterdammer won three gold medals in four days at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo last summer: in the triathlon, the time trial and the road race. Plat (30) was also named Paralympic Athlete of the Year in 2017 and 2019.
Jetze Plat receives the prize for best Paralympic athlete of the year during the NOC*NSF Sportgala.
ⓒ AP
Fanny Blankers-Koen Career Award
Former cyclist Hennie Kuiper has received the Fannie Blankers-Koen Career Award. The 72-year-old Kuiper received the oeuvre prize from former winner Joop Zoetemelk. “I am quite proud of this,” said Kuiper, one of the most successful Dutch cyclists ever.
Bibian Mentel was posthumously awarded the Fanny Blankers-Koen Career Prize. The Paralympic snowboarder passed away on March 29 this year at the age of 48. From the hands of Richard Krajicek, winner of the oeuvre prize in 2019, her husband Edwin Spee and son Julian received the Fanny Blankers-Koen Career Prize at home.
Coach of the Year
Hugo Haak again received the award for Coach of the Year. The 30-year-old Haak is the coach of the Dutch track sprinters. He also received the Jaap Eden award at the Sportgala in 2019.
Under the leadership of Haak, the track cyclists have won titles at major tournaments in recent years. He announced last month that he would stop next spring at the latest.
Talent of the Year
weightlifter Enzo Kuworge received the Young Talent Award at the Sportgala, the prize for the greatest talent. The 20-year-old Gelderlander participated in the Olympic Games last summer and finished sixth in Tokyo in the class over 109 kilograms. Kuworge was the first Dutch weightlifter at the Games since Piet van der Kruk in 1968.
Last year the Sportgala was canceled because the sports world was silent for several months due to the corona pandemic. That is why the most important sports achievements from 2020 were also highlighted and taken into account in this year’s election. Voting took place digitally. Nearly 1100 athletes chose in the athlete categories, more than 250 coaches cast their vote for the title Coach of the Year. The votes of the athletes and coaches counted for 50 percent, the votes of the professional jury members determine the other half.