Track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen from Luyksgestel has become Sportsman of the Year. This became clear on Wednesday evening during the Sports Gala of the NOC*NSF at Papendal. The 27-year-old track cyclist won three gold medals during the Olympic Games in Paris. He did this in the sprint, keirin and team sprint. Sylvana van Hees (31) from Halsteren also won prizes. Together with her wheelchair basketball team, she became Parasport Team of the Year.
“I thought: if it doesn’t work out this year, it will never work out,” Lavreysen said on stage. “I have achieved everything I dreamed of.” Lavreysen has had a very successful year. In addition to his success at the Olympic Games in Paris, he was also in a class of his own at the Track Cycling World Championships in October. There, the powerhouse from Luyksgestel won three more titles.
In the battle for Sportsman of the Year, the Brabander faced competition from cyclist Mathieu van der Poel, among others. He has already won the title of Sportsman of the Year twice before. Last year he won it for the second time. This year, the cyclist won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, among others. In October he became world champion in gravel riding and the all-rounder on the bike was also named Dutch Cyclist of the Year.
Another competitor was Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen. He won his fourth world title this year. But Abdi Nageeye was also in the race. He was the first Dutchman ever to win the New York Marathon. He also won the Rotterdam marathon.
Para sports team of the year
Sylvana van Hees became Paralympic champion in Paris this summer with the wheelchair basketball women. The Dutch wheelchair basketball players were the defending champions in the French capital. Van Hees was also part of that championship team four years ago. Just like wheelchair tennis player Niels Vink from Helmond, she was nominated in the Parasport Team of the Year category.
The team received the award from former Olympic athlete Churandy Martina. A teammate of Sylvana said she was proud of her team’s result. “We can be extra proud that we have succeeded again.”
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