NOC*NSF Sportgala
By RTL Nieuws·42 minutes ago·Edit: 4 minutes ago
© ANPRTL
Track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen was chosen as Sportsman of the Year at the NOC*NSF Sports Gala in Papendal. The 27-year-old native of Brabant won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last summer. Sifan Hassan can win the title of sportswoman of the year for the third time.
Lavreysen had to compete with marathon runner Abdi Nageeye, cyclist Mathieu van der Poel and Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen. Sifan Hassan competed against Karolien Florijn, Marit Bouwmeester, Femke Bol and Sharon van Rouwendaal.
Gold in Tokyo
Lavreysen was already good for two gold medals at the Tokyo Games (2021), but then had to leave the title of Sportsman of the Year to Verstappen. Earlier this month he was awarded the Vélo d’Or, a prestigious cycling prize from the French cycling magazine Vélo Magazine, which was also awarded for the first time to the ‘best cyclist in an Olympic discipline’.
With five gold medals won at two Games, the track cyclist is the most successful Dutch Olympian among men ever. In the ranking of gold medals he only has to tolerate Ireen Wüst. The former skater won no fewer than six gold medals, spread over five different Games.
The 3×3 basketball players who won gold in Paris were voted sports team of the year. Dimeo van der Horst, Arvin Slagter, Worthy de Jong and Jan Driessen took the win in a nerve-wracking final against host country France, thanks to a winning shot by De Jong.
The 3×3 basketball players had competition in the election from the athletes from the mixed 4×400 meter relay and the track cyclists from the team sprint.
Para athletes win prizes
Fleur Jong was named Para Sportswoman of the Year. The 29-year-old North Holland para-athlete won gold in the 100 meters in the T64 class and took the title in the long jump during the Paris Paralympic Games.
© ANPAll winners on the podium.
Jetze Plat was named Parasportsman of the Year. The 33-year-old Plat, active in para-athletics, triathlon and para-road cycling, won three gold medals during the Paris Paralympic Games: in the road race and the individual time trial in road cycling and in the para-triathlon.
Plat has previously received the award for Para Athlete of the Year three times. Since last year, men and women have been assessed separately.
Wheelchair basketball players
The wheelchair basketball players were honored as Parasport Team of the Year. It was the second year in a row that the 2024 Olympic champion received the prize in Paris.
In the Olympic final, the team was clearly too strong for the United States after a difficult start: 63-49. With that victory, the team of national coach Gertjan van der Linden extended the title it won three years earlier in Tokyo.
Sifan Hassan recently looked back on her sporting year at Renze:
Hassan won gold at the marathon in Paris, among other things.