Belgian Sportsman of the Year

The Belgian Sportsman of the Year (Dutch: Sportman van het jaar; French: Sportif belge de l'année; German: Sportler des Jahres) is elected at the end of each year by professional sportjournalists and former winners,^[1] annually since 1967. A Belgian Sportswoman of the Year title has been given out since 1975. Top winners include Ingrid Berghmans (8 wins), Kim Clijsters (8) and Eddy Merckx (6).^[2]

More categories were added in 1997, with the Belgian Sportsteam of the Year, 1998 with the Belgian Talent of the Year, 2010 with the Belgian Paralympic Athlete of the Year and lastly in 2011 the Belgian Coach of the Year.^[3]

The youngest male winner of the Belgian sportsman of the year is Remco Evenepoel who won the award at the age of 19.^[4] The youngest female winner is Carine Verbauwen, who won the award at the age of 13.^[5]

List of winners

Year	Men		Women		Team		Promising Talent		Paralympic		Coach
	Winner	Sport	Winner	Sport	Winner	Sport	Winner	Sport	Winner	Sport	Winner	Sport
2023[6]	Remco Evenepoel (3)	cycling	Lotte Kopecky	cycling	Belgium women's national basketball team (2)	basketball	Alec Segaert	cycling	Maxime Carabin	athletics	Rachid Meziane	basketball
2022[7]	Remco Evenepoel (2)	cycling	Nafissatou Thiam (4)	athletics	Men's 4×400 metres relay (4)	athletics	Cian Uijtdebroeks	cycling	Michèle George (2)	equestrian	Roger Lespagnard (3)	athletics
2021[8]	Wout van Aert (2)	cycling	Nina Derwael (3)	gymnastics	Belgium national field hockey team (5)	field hockey	Thibau Nys	cycling	Peter Genyn (3)	athletics	Shane McLeod (2)	field hockey
2020[9]	Wout van Aert	cycling	Emma Meesseman	basketball	Belgium women's national basketball team	basketball	Charles De Ketelaere	football	Joachim Gérard (3)	tennis	Philip Mestdagh	basketball
2019[10]	Remco Evenepoel	cycling	Nina Derwael (2)	gymnastics	Belgium national field hockey team (4)	field hockey	Yari Verschaeren	football	Joachim Gérard (2)	tennis	Shane McLeod	field hockey
2018	Eden Hazard	football	Nina Derwael (1)	gymnastics	Belgium national field hockey team (3)	field hockey	Remco Evenepoel	cycling	Peter Genyn (2)	athletics	Roberto Martinez	football
2017	David Goffin	tennis	Nafissatou Thiam (3)	athletics	Belgium Davis Cup team (3)	tennis	Lotte Kopecky	cycling	Peter Genyn	athletics	Roger Lespagnard (2)	athletics
2016	Greg Van Avermaet	cycling	Nafissatou Thiam (2)	athletics	Belgium national field hockey team (2)	field hockey	Louise Carton	athletics	Laurens Devos	table tennis	Roger Lespagnard	athletics
2015	Kevin De Bruyne	football	Delfine Persoon	boxing	Belgium Davis Cup team (2)	tennis	Tiesj Benoot	cycling	Marieke Vervoort (2)	athletics	Hein Vanhaezebrouck	football
2014	Thibaut Courtois	football	Nafissatou Thiam	athletics	Belgium national football team (2)	football	Divock Origi	football	Michèle George	equestrian	Marc Wilmots (2)	football
2013	Frederik Van Lierde	triathlon	Kirsten Flipkens	tennis	Belgium national football team	football	Nafissatou Thiam	athletics	Joachim Gérard (1)	tennis	Marc Wilmots	football
2012	Tom Boonen (3)	cycling	Evi Van Acker	sailing	Belgium national field hockey team	field hockey	Kimmer Coppejans	tennis	Marieke Vervoort	athletics	Jacques Borlée (2)	athletics
2011	Philippe Gilbert (3)	cycling	Kim Clijsters (8)	tennis	Men's 4×400 metres relay (3)	athletics	Thomas Van der Plaetsen	athletics	Wim Decleir	cycling	Jacques Borlée	athletics
2010	Philippe Gilbert (2)	cycling	Kim Clijsters (7)	tennis	Men's 4×400 metres relay (2)	athletics	Luca Brecel	snooker	Sven Decaesstecker	swimming	not awarded
2009	Philippe Gilbert	cycling	Kim Clijsters (6)	tennis	Men's 4×400 metres relay	athletics	Romelu Lukaku	football	not awarded
2008	Sven Nys	cyclo-cross	Tia Hellebaut	athletics	Women's 4×100 metres relay (3)	athletics	Elise Matthysen	swimming
2007	Tom Boonen (2)[11]	cycling	Justine Henin-Hardenne (4)[12]	tennis	Women's 4×100 metres relay (2)	athletics	Dominique Cornu	cycling
2006	Stefan Everts (5)	motocross	Justine Henin-Hardenne (3)	tennis	Belgium Fed Cup team (2)	tennis	Yoris Grandjean	swimming
2005	Tom Boonen	cycling	Kim Clijsters (5)	tennis	Belgium national under-21 football team	football	Niels Albert	cyclo-cross
2004	Stefan Everts (4)	motocross	Justine Henin-Hardenne (2)	tennis	Women's 4×100 metres relay	athletics	Aagje Vanwalleghem	gymnastics
2003	Stefan Everts (3)	motocross	Justine Henin-Hardenne	tennis	Belgian Motocross team (2)	motocross	Kirsten Flipkens	tennis
2002	Stefan Everts (2)	motocross	Kim Clijsters (4)	tennis	La Villette Charleroi	table tennis	Thomas Buffel	football
2001	Stefan Everts	motocross	Kim Clijsters (3)	tennis	Belgium Fed Cup team	tennis	Jurgen Van den Broeck	cycling
2000	Joël Smets	motocross	Kim Clijsters (2)	tennis	RSC Anderlecht	football	Bart Aernouts	cyclo-cross
1999	Luc Van Lierde (2)	triathlon	Kim Clijsters	tennis	Belgium Davis Cup team	tennis	Bart Wellens	cyclo-cross
1998	Frédérik Deburghgraeve (3)	swimming	Dominique Monami	tennis	Belgian Motocross team	motocross	Kim Clijsters	tennis
1997	Luc Van Lierde	triathlon	Gella Vandecaveye (2)	judo	Noliko Maaseik	volleyball	not awarded
1996	Frédérik Deburghgraeve (2)	swimming	Ulla Werbrouck	judo	not awarded
1995	Frédérik Deburghgraeve	swimming	Brigitte Becue (2)	swimming
1994	Jean-Michel Saive (2)	table tennis	Brigitte Becue	swimming
1993	Vincent Rousseau (2)	athletics	Gella Vandecaveye	judo
1992	Georges Jobé (2)	motocross	Annelies Bredael	rowing
1991	Jean-Michel Saive	table tennis	Sabine Appelmans (2)	tennis
1990	Rudy Dhaenens	cycling	Sabine Appelmans	tennis
1989	Thierry Boutsen	motorsport	Ingrid Berghmans (8)	judo
1988	Eric Geboers	motocross	Ingrid Berghmans (7)	judo
1987	Georges Jobé	motocross	Ingrid Lempereur	swimming
1986	William Van Dijck	athletics	Ingrid Berghmans (6)	judo
1985	Gaston Rahier Vincent Rousseau	motocross athletics	Ingrid Berghmans (5)	judo
1984	Claude Criquielion	cycling	Ingrid Berghmans (4)	judo
1983	Eddy Annys	athletics	Ingrid Berghmans (3)	judo
1982	Jacky Ickx	motorsport	Ingrid Berghmans (2)	judo
1981	Freddy Maertens	cycling	Annie Lambrechts	roller skating
1980	Robert Van De Walle (2)	judo	Ingrid Berghmans	judo
1979	Robert Van De Walle	judo	Carine Verbauwen (3)	swimming
1978	Raymond Ceulemans	billiards	Carine Verbauwen (2)	swimming
1977	Michel Pollentier	cycling	Anne-Marie Pira (2)	athletics
1976	Ivo Van Damme	athletics	Anne-Marie Pira	athletics
1975	Bruno Brokken	athletics	Carine Verbauwen	swimming
1974	Eddy Merckx (6)	cycling	not awarded
1973	Eddy Merckx (5)	cycling
1972	Eddy Merckx (4)	cycling
1971	Eddy Merckx (3)	cycling
1970	Eddy Merckx (2)	cycling
1969	Eddy Merckx	cycling
1968	Serge Reding	weightlifting
1967	Ferdinand Bracke	cycling

Breakdown of winners by sport

Men

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Cycling	23	1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1990, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Motocross	10	1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Athletics	6	1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1993
Swimming	3	1995, 1996, 1998
Triathlon	3	1997, 1999, 2013
Football	3	2014, 2015, 2018
Judo	2	1979, 1980
Motorsport	2	1982, 1989
Table tennis	2	1991, 1994
Weightlifting	1	1968
Billiards	1	1978
Cyclo-cross	1	2008
Tennis	1	2017

Women

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Tennis	16	1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
Judo	11	1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1997
Athletics	7	1976, 1977, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
Swimming	6	1975, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1994, 1995
Gymnastics	3	2018, 2019, 2021
Roller skating	1	1981
Rowing	1	1992
Sailing	1	2012
Boxing	1	2015
Basketball	1	2020
Cycling	1	2023

Team

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Athletics	7	2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022
Tennis	5	1999, 2001, 2006, 2015, 2017
Field hockey	5	2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
Football	4	2000, 2005, 2013, 2014
Motocross	2	1998, 2003
Basketball	2	2020, 2023
Volleyball	1	1997
Table tennis	1	2002

Talent

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Cycling	8	2001, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Football	5	2002, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2020
Cyclo-cross	3	1999, 2000, 2005
Tennis	3	1998, 2003, 2012
Athletics	3	2011, 2013, 2016
Swimming	2	2006, 2008
Gymnastics	1	2004
Snooker	1	2010

Paralympic

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Athletics	6	2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023
Tennis	3	2013, 2019, 2020
Equestrian	2	2014, 2022
Swimming	1	2010
Cycling	1	2011
Table tennis	1	2016

Coach

Sport	Number of wins	Winning years
Athletics	5	2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2022
Football	4	2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
Field hockey	2	2019, 2021
Basketball	2	2020, 2023

Overall

Sport	Total number of wins	Men	Women	Team	Talent	Paralympic	Coach	First win	Last win
Athletics	34	6	7	8	2	6	5	1975	2023
Cycling	33	23	1	0	8	1	0	1967	2023
Tennis	28	1	16	5	3	3	0	1990	2020
Football	16	3	0	4	5	0	4	2000	2020
Judo	13	2	11	0	0	0	0	1979	1997
Motocross	12	10	0	2	0	0	0	1985	2006
Swimming	12	3	6	0	2	1	0	1975	2010
Field hockey	7	0	0	5	0	0	2	2012	2021
Basketball	5	0	1	2	0	0	2	2020	2023
Cyclo-cross	4	1	0	0	3	0	0	1999	2008
Table tennis	4	2	0	1	0	1	0	1991	2016
Gymnastics	4	0	3	0	1	0	0	2004	2021
Triathlon	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	1997	2013
Motorsport	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	1982	1989
Equestrian	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	2014	2022
Billiards	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1978
Boxing	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2015
Roller skating	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1981
Rowing	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1992
Sailing	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2012
Snooker	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2010
Volleyball	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1997
Weightlifting	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1968

See also

• Belgian Sports Personality of the Year

References

1. Nieuws sport.be, 5 december 2019, article in Dutch
2. Sportgala.be; Official website of the organisation awarding the award, website in Dutch
3. Decaesstecker Named Belgian Paralympic Athlete of the Year, International Paralympic Committee (IPC), December 20, 2010
4. Remco Evenepoel jongste Sportman van het Jaar ooit, Nina Derwael opnieuw Sportvrouw van het Jaar, Article in Dutch
5. Carine Verbauwen, Article in Dutch
6. sporza.be, 10 December 2023, article in Dutch
7. sporza.be, 6 January 2023, article in Dutch
8. Sportgala 2021: de volledige uitslagen in alle categorieën op een rijtje sporza.be, 19 December 2021, article in Dutch
9. Van Aert en Meesseman zijn Sportman en Sportvrouw, Belgian Cats grote slokop sporza.be, 18 December 2020, article in Dutch
10. 19-jarigen aan de macht: Evenepoel en Derwael zijn Sportman en Sportvrouw sporza.be, 21 December 2019, article in Dutch
11. "Tom Boonen Sportman van het Jaar". De Morgen. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
12. "Justine Henin Sportvrouw van het Jaar". De Morgen. Retrieved 2007-12-18.