Sifan Hassan for the third time Sportswoman of the Year, Young Parasportswoman of 2024

Sifan Hassan has been named Sportswoman of the Year for the third time at the NOC*NSF Sports Gala in Papendal. The athlete previously received the prize in 2019 and 2021. With her third title, she tied with swimmer Ada Kok and cyclist Marianne Vos. Only figure skater Sjoukje Dijkstra and cyclist Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel have won more often, six times each.

“I am very happy to be here, a wonderful moment,” said Hassan, after she was presented with the prize by chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband.

31-year-old Hassan crowned her Olympic mission with gold in the marathon in Paris. She was the fastest in the final sprint against world record holder Tigst Assefa.

The Dutch finished in 2.22.55 and was ahead of the Ethiopian by three seconds.

Hassan also won bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters on the athletics track in Paris. She became the first woman to combine these distances on the track with the Olympic marathon, a unique trilogy.

In this election, Hassan was preferred to last year’s winner, athlete Femke Bol. Rower Karolien Florijn, sailor Marit Bouwmeester and swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal were also nominated.

Fleur Jong received the prize of Para Sportswoman of the Year. The 29-year-old athlete, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, won the 100 meters and the long jump at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

She followed in the footsteps of wheelchair tennis player Diede de Groot. Table tennis player Kelly van Zon, shot putter Lara Baars and swimmer Liesette Bruinsma were also nominated this year.

The Young Talent Award went to Angel Daleman. The seventeen-year-old skater really made her breakthrough this season. The last skater to win the Talent of the Year award was Mark Tuitert in 1999.

“My dream is to win Olympic gold,” said Daleman, who was presented with the prize by Ireen Wüst. “Ireen thinks that I am much better than I have shown before, but I have to prove that first.”