Dutch Athlete of the Year

Athletics award in the Netherlands

Middle- and long-distance runner Sifan Hassan was Dutch Athlete of the Year in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024. Sprinter and heptathlete Dafne Schippers won from 2011 to 2017, more times than any other athlete. Sprinter Tinus Osendarp was the first winner for 1935, when it was called the Sauer Cup.

The Dutch Athlete of the Year (Dutch: atleet van het jaar) is an annual award given to the most distinguished competitor in the sport of athletics from the Netherlands by the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation (KNAU).[1] A shortlist is drawn up by a group of federation officials and sports journalists and then goes to a vote to the public.[1][2] The award is presented at the annual end-of-year gala of the federation.[2][3][4]

The award for 1935 was inaugurated in 1936 as the Sauer Cup (Dutch: Sauer-beker). It was renamed to the KNAU Cup in 1947, as the eponymous Sauer had collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.[5][6] Initially a mixed-gender award, the best Dutch male and female athletes were recognised separately from 1959 onwards. The men's award was called the Herman van Leeuwen Cup during this period, while the women's award continued as the KNAU Cup. Since 2005, the awards have been known as the Dutch Athlete of the Year,[7][8] and since 2018, it is again a mixed-gender award.[1]

Junior athletes also gained recognition separately through the mixed-gender Albert Spree Cup (Dutch: Albert Spree-beker) that was first awarded in 1951.[5] From 1959, male and female juniors were recognised separately; junior female athletes gained recognition through the Fanny Blankers-Koen Plaquette, while the award for junior male athletes continued as the Albert Spree Cup.[5] These were replaced in 2006 by a mixed-gender junior award known as the Talent of the Year. Since 2018, this award has been merged with the Dutch Athlete of the Year award. In the years between 2011 and 2018, a separate award for para-athletes also existed.[1]

## List of winners

[edit]

### 1935–1946

[edit]

Sauer Cup[note 1] Year  | Athlete  | Ref.

|
|

1935  | Tinus Osendarp | [9]
1936  | Wil van Beveren | [10]
1937  | Fanny Koen | [11]
1938  | Nel van Balen Blanken | [12]
1939  | Jan Brasser | [13]
1940  | Fanny Blankers-Koen | [14]
1941  | Wim Peters | [15]
1942  | Chris Berger | [16]
1943  | Fanny Blankers-Koen | [17]
1944  | not awarded[note 2] | [5]
1945  | not awarded[note 2] | [5]
1946  | Women's relay team[note 3] | [19]

### 1947–1958

[edit]

KNAU Cup[note 4] Year  | Athlete  | Ref.

|
|

1947  | Jef Lataster | [20]
1948  | Frits de Ruijter | [21]
1949  | Joop Overdijk | [22]
1950  | Wim Slijkhuis | [23]
1951  | Nico Lutkeveld | [24]
1952  | Puck Brouwer | [25]
1953  | Wil Lust | [26]
1954  | Janus van der Zande | [27]
1955  | Cor Aafjes | [28]
1956  | Frans Künen | [29]
1957  | Hannie Bloemhof | [30]
1958  | Dini Hobers | [31]

### 1959–2004

[edit]

Herman van Leeuwen Cup and KNAU Cup[note 5] Year  | Men  | Women  | Ref.

|
|
|

1959  | Eef Kamerbeek | Gerda Kraan | [32]
1960  | Eef Kamerbeek | Joke Bijleveld | [33]
1961  | Cees Koch | Gerda Kraan | [34]
1962  | Cees Koch | Gerda Kraan | [35]
1963  | Henk Evers | Lia Hinten | [36]
1964  | Frans Luitjes | Tilly van der Made | [37]
1965  | Fred van Herpen | Ilja Laman & Hilde Slaman | [38]
1966  | Leo de Winter | Corrie Bakker | [39]
1967  | Piet Olofsen | Mia Gommers | [40]
1968  | Ed de Noorlander | Mia Gommers | [41]
1969  | Ben Lesterhuis | Wilma van den Berg | [42]
1970  | Bram Wassenaar | Ilja Keizer-Laman | [43]
1971  | Egbert Nijstad | Els van Noorduyn | [44]
1972  | Jos Hermens | Ilja Keizer-Laman | [45]
1973  | Haico Scharn | Mieke van Wissen-Sterk | [46]
1974  | Jos Hermens | Ciska Janssen-Jansen | [47]
1975  | Jos Hermens | Mieke van Doorn | [48]
1976  | Ruud Wielart | Ria Stalman | [49]
1977  | Ruud Wielart | Mirjam van Laar | [50]
1978  | Gerard Tebroke | Sylvia Barlag | [5]
1979  | Harry Schulting | Sylvia Barlag | [51]
1980  | Gerard Nijboer | Sylvia Barlag | [5]
1981  | Hans Koeleman | Els Vader | [5]
1982  | Gerard Nijboer | Carla Beurskens | [5]
1983  | Rob Druppers | Ria Stalman | [5]
1984  | Erik de Bruin | Ria Stalman | [5]
1985  | Rob Druppers | Carla Beurskens | [5]
1986  | Han Kulker | Nelli Cooman | [52]
1987  | Han Kulker | Elly van Hulst | [5]
1988  | Robert de Wit | Elly van Hulst | [53]
1989  | Emiel Mellaard | Elly van Hulst | [54]
1990  | Erik de Bruin | Ellen van Langen | [55]
1991  | Erik de Bruin | Letitia Vriesde | [56]
1992  | Robert de Wit | Ellen van Langen | [57]
1993  | Bert van Vlaanderen | not awarded | [5]
1994  | Bert van Vlaanderen | Nelli Fiere-Cooman | [58]
1995  | Bert van Vlaanderen | Sharon Jaklofsky | [5]
1996  | Marko Koers | Sharon Jaklofsky | [59]
1997  | Marko Koers | Corrie de Bruin | [5]
1998  | Robin Korving | Corrie de Bruin | [5]
1999  | Kamiel Maase | Lieja Koeman | [60]
2000  | Simon Vroemen | Lieja Koeman | [61]
2001  | Kamiel Maase | Letitia Vriesde | [1]
2002  | Simon Vroemen | Jacqueline Poelman | [1]
2003  | Kamiel Maase | Lornah Kiplagat | [1]
2004  | Chiel Warners | Karin Ruckstuhl | [62]

### 2005–present

[edit]

Athlete of the Year[note 6] Year  | Men  | Women  | Ref.

|
|
|

2005  | Rens Blom | Lornah Kiplagat | [7]
2006  | Bram Som | Karin Ruckstuhl | [8]
2007  | Rutger Smith | Lornah Kiplagat | [63]
2008  | Rutger Smith | Lornah Kiplagat | [64]
2009  | Martijn Nuijens | Jolanda Keizer | [65]
2010  | Eelco Sintnicolaas | Yvonne Hak | [66]
2011  | Eelco Sintnicolaas | Dafne Schippers | [67]
2012  | Churandy Martina | Dafne Schippers | [68]
2013  | Ignisious Gaisah | Dafne Schippers | [69]
2014  | Eelco Sintnicolaas | Dafne Schippers | [70]
2015  | Liemarvin Bonevacia | Dafne Schippers | [71]
2016  | Churandy Martina | Dafne Schippers | [72]
2017  | Menno Vloon | Dafne Schippers | [73]
2018  | Sifan Hassan | [74]
2019  | Sifan Hassan | [3]
2020  | not awarded[note 7] | [1]
2021  | Sifan Hassan | [4]
2022  | Femke Bol | [2]
2023  | Femke Bol | [75]
2024  | Sifan Hassan | [76]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The Sauer Cup was awarded in March for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
2. ^ a b There were famine and fighting in the Netherlands during the last two years of World War II. In addition, there were athletics equipment shortages at the time.[18]
3. ^ The women's 4 × 100 m relay team members were Fanny Blankers-Koen, Martha Adema, Nettie Timmer, and Gerda Koudijs.
4. ^ The KNAU Cup was awarded in March or April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
5. ^ The Herman van Leeuwen Cup and the KNAU Cup were awarded in January–April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.
6. ^ The Athlete of the Year was awarded in November or December for performances in that year or in January or February for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.
7. ^ Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Toegekende onderscheidingen" (in Dutch), Royal Dutch Athletics Federation, 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023. Archived 25 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
2. ^ a b c "Bol ook in Nederland verkozen tot Atleet van het Jaar" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 19 November 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2023. Archived 6 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
3. ^ a b "Tot Atleet van het Jaar uitgeroepen Hassan slaat WK indoor over" (in Dutch), NOS, 12 December 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2023. Archived 6 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
4. ^ a b "Sifan Hassan voor derde keer op rij Nederlands atlete van het jaar" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 15 December 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2023. Archived 6 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Aad Heere & Bart Kappenburg, "Hoofdstuk 25 Onderscheidingen Archived 7 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), 130 jaar atletiek in Nederland Archived 1 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch), 2000. ISBN 90-9012867-0. Retrieved 6 October 2023. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link).
6. ^ Robert Misset, "De sport als politiek propaganda-wapen" (in Dutch), Het Parool, 5 May 1990. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
7. ^ a b "Blom en Kiplagat atleten van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 7 January 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
8. ^ a b "Bram Som en Karin Ruckstuhl beste atleten Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Trouw, 8 January 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
9. ^ "Athletiekparlement bijeen" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 16 March 1936. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
10. ^ "Athletiekparlement oefent critiek" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 15 March 1937. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
11. ^ "K.N.A.U. vergadert" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 14 March 1938. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
12. ^ "Athletiek-parlement bijeen" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 13 March 1939. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
13. ^ "De jaarvergadering van de K.N.A.U." (in Dutch), Arnhemsche Courant, 11 March 1940. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
14. ^ "Athletiek voor en achter de groene tafel" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 17 March 1941. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
15. ^ "Een welvarende Athletiek Unie" (in Dutch), Het Vaderland, 9 March 1942. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
16. ^ "Sauer-beker voor Chr. Berger." (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 15 March 1943. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
17. ^ "Nederlandsche Athletiek Unie" (in Dutch), Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 14 March 1944. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
18. ^ "De Athletiek-Unie bijeen" (in Dutch), De Waarheid, 11 March 1946. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
19. ^ "K.N.A.U. vergadert" (in Dutch), Algemeen Handelsblad, 10 March 1947. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
20. ^ "KNAU-beker voor Lataster" (in Dutch), Arnhemsche Courant, 9 March 1948. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
21. ^ "Jaarvergadering KNAU" (in Dutch), Arnhemsche Courant, 14 March 1949. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
22. ^ "KNAU-beker voor Joop Overdijk" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 13 March 1950. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
23. ^ "KNAU-beker voor Wim Slijkhuis" (in Dutch), Het Vrije Volk, 12 March 1951. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
24. ^ "K.N.A.U. heeft toezicht op trainers" (in Dutch), Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 10 March 1952. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
25. ^ "Duitse athleten mogen alleen in grensgebieden starten" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 9 March 1953. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
26. ^ "Geen veranderingen in athletiekbeleid" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 15 March 1954. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
27. ^ "KNAU krijgt subsidie" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 14 March 1955. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
28. ^ "Veel oppositie tegen reorganisatie K.N.A.U." (in Dutch), De Tijd, 12 March 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
29. ^ "Cie. van beroep met negen man" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 8 April 1957. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
30. ^ "Scherpe kritiek op regering" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 14 April 1958. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
31. ^ "Dini Hobers kreeg de KNAU-beker" (in Dutch), Het Parool, 13 April 1959. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
32. ^ "Atleten onderscheiden" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 11 April 1960. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
33. ^ "Atletiek Unie wil Duitse of Poolse coach" (in Dutch), Het Parool, 13 March 1961. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
34. ^ "Onderscheidingen voor atleten" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 19 March 1962. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
35. ^ "Paulen voorzitter en erevoorzitter" (in Dutch), Het Vrije Volk, 18 March 1963. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
36. ^ "Frans Jutte leider van de KNAU" (in Dutch), Het Parool, 16 March 1964. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
37. ^ "„Herenatletiek raakt nog meer achterop...”" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 15 March 1965. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
38. ^ "Weinig schokkends op vergadering van atletiekunie" (in Dutch), Het Parool, 14 March 1966. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
39. ^ "Corrie Bakker kreeg de KNAU-beker" (in Dutch), Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 13 March 1967. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
40. ^ "M. Gommers kreeg Unie-beker J. Hensgens Albert Spree-beker" (in Dutch), Limburgsch Dagblad, 18 March 1968. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
41. ^ "KNAU uit slaap gewekt" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 17 March 1969. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
42. ^ "Sfeer bij Atletiekunie opgeklaard" (in Dutch), Het Vrije Volk, 23 March 1970. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
43. ^ "Omstreden begroting KNAU aanvaard" (in Dutch), Limburgsch Dagblad, 22 March 1971. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
44. ^ "Laatste jaar Frans Jutte" (in Dutch), Tubantia, 27 March 1972. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
45. ^ "Lemmens en Koomen ereleden van KNAU" (in Dutch), Limburgsch Dagblad, 16 April 1973. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
46. ^ "KNAU stelt positie NOC ter discussie" (in Dutch), Tubantia, 25 March 1974. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
47. ^ "District Noord van de KNAU krijgt de Pim Mulier-beker" (in Dutch), Leeuwarder Courant, 24 March 1975. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
48. ^ "Jos Hermens onderscheiden" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 22 March 1976. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
49. ^ "Bea Wiarda krijgt Fanny Blankers-Koen-plaquette" (in Dutch), Leeuwarder Courant, 28 February 1977. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
50. ^ "KNAU onderscheidt Elly van Hulst" (in Dutch), Leeuwarder Courant, 3 April 1978. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
51. ^ "Atletiek" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 4 February 1980. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
52. ^ "KNAU-beker voor Cooman" (in Dutch), Het Vrije Volk, 6 April 1987. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
53. ^ "Cooman en Van Hulst in het zonnetje gezet" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 3 April 1989. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
54. ^ "Unieraad kiest voor directeur/voorzitter" (in Dutch), Het Vrije Volk, 26 March 1990. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
55. ^ "Jennings en Skah houden veldlooptraditie hoog" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 25 March 1991. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
56. ^ "Onderzoek KNAU naar 'affaire Ria Stalman' Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 6 April 1992. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
57. ^ "Van Langen krijgt beker van KNAU" (in Dutch), De Volkskrant, 11 January 1993. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
58. ^ "Van Vlaanderen in de prijzen" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 12 January 1995. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
59. ^ "KNAU-prijzen Koers en Jaklofsky Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Leidsch Dagblad, 13 January 1997. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
60. ^ "Beste atleet van 1999 Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Leidsch Dagblad, 10 January 2000. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
61. ^ "Vroemen gekozen tot beste atleet Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 3 January 2001. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
62. ^ "Meerkampers Warners en Ruckstuhl atleten 2004 Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 8 January 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
63. ^ "Kiplagat en Smith beste atleten Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), De Gelderlander, 5 January 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
64. ^ "Kiplagat en Smith atleten 2008 Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 10 January 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
65. ^ "Nuijens en Keizer gekroond tot beste atleten van 2009 Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 31 December 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
66. ^ "Hak en Sintnicolaas atleten van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 31 December 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
67. ^ "Schippers en Sintnicolaas beste atleten Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 31 December 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
68. ^ "Prijs voor Martina en Schippers Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NOS, 20 December 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
69. ^ "Gaisah atleet van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), RTV Rijnmond, 16 January 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
70. ^ "Schippers en Sintnicolaas atleten van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NOS, 22 January 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
71. ^ "Atletiek Schippers verkozen tot Nederlands Atlete van het Jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
72. ^ "Atletiek Schippers voor de zesde keer Nederlands atlete van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 11 February 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
73. ^ "Schippers en Vloon atleten van het jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 14 December 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
74. ^ "Sifan Hassan na sterk seizoen verkozen tot Atleet van het Jaar Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 12 December 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
75. ^ "Femke Bol voor tweede keer op rij verkozen tot Nederlands atleet van het jaar Archived 16 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
76. ^ Rypke Bakker, "Sifan Hassan boven Femke Bol verkozen tot Nederlandse atleet van het jaar" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 15 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

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Annual awards in athletics and track and field

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