Remco Evenepoel and Nafi Thiam voted Belgian Sportsman and Woman of the Year
Cyclist Remco Evenepoel was crowned Belgian Sportsman of the Year on Sunday evening, while Nafi Thiam was named Belgian Sportswoman of the Year for the fifth time in her career.
Evenepoel not only became Olympic time trial and road champion at the Paris Olympics last summer, but also extended his world time trial title and finished third in the Tour de France. The 24-year-old cyclist has now won the Belgian Sportsman of the Year award four times.
Rally driver Thierry Neuville was second and runner Bashir Abdi third. Neuville became world rally champion for the first time at the end of November, while Abdi won Olympic marathon silver at the Paris Games.
Thiam was named Belgian Sportswoman of the Year thanks to her third consecutive gold medal at this summer's Olympic Games. It is the fifth time she has won the award after 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2022. Only judoka Ingrid Berghmans and tennis player Kim Clijsters have done better, with eight victories each.
Thiam beat cyclist Lotte Kopecky, who won bronze in Paris and became world road champion this year. Fellow heptathlete Noor Vidts, who won bronze in Paris, came third. Thiam's mother collected the award on her behalf at the ceremony in Zaventem.
The annual awards ceremony was first held in 1967. Each January, a group of sports journalists and former winners choose the champions.
Remco Evenepoel with his award © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM / Nafi Thiam's mother, Aida-Daniele Denisty, 12 January 2025 © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY
Related news
