Belgian National Sports Merit Award Explained

The Belgian National Sports Merit Award is an annual award handed out to a Belgian sportsperson or -team for exceptional merit. Players can only win the award once during their career, making this trophy one of the most prestigious in Belgian sports. The trophy is awarded by a jury consisting of (former) sports champions (e.g. Paul Van Himst and Ingrid Berghmans), influential sports people and sports journalists and is led by the mayor of Brussels.

The trophy was established in 1928 by Alban Collignon, as a tribute to the founder of the Royal Belgian Aero-club, Fernand Jacobs. Therefore the trophy was in the first four years known as the Fernand Jacobs Award.

Winners

YearWinnerSport
2024Lotte Kopecky[1] Cycling
2023Bart Swings[2] Speed Skating & Roller Skating
2022Remco Evenepoel[3] Cycling
2021Bashir AbdiAthletics
2020Wout van Aert[4] Cycling & Cyclo-cross
2019Belgium men's national field hockey team[5] Field Hockey
2018Nina Derwael[6] Gymnastics
2017David Goffin[7] Tennis
2016Nafissatou Thiam[8] Athletics
2015Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team[9] Athletics
2014Daniel Van Buyten[10] Football
2013Frederik Van Lierde[11] Triathlon
2012Evi Van Acker[12] Sailing
2011Kevin BorléeAthletics
2010Philippe Le JeuneEquestrianism
2009Philippe GilbertCycling
2008align=center colspan=2not awarded
2007Belgian women's 4 × 100 metres relay teamAthletics
2006Kim Gevaert and Tia HellebautAthletics
2005Tom BoonenCycling
2004Axel MerckxCycling
2003Stefan EvertsMotocross
2002Marc WilmotsFootball
2001Kim Clijsters and Justine HeninTennis
2000Joël SmetsMotocross
1999Gella VandecaveyeJudo
1998Ulla WerbrouckJudo
1997Luc Van LierdeTriathlon
1996Johan MuseeuwCycling
1995Frédérik DeburghgraeveSwimming
1994Brigitte BecueSwimming
1993Vincent RousseauAthletics
1992Annelies BredaelRowing
1991Jean-Michel SaiveTable Tennis
1990Jan CeulemansFootball
1989Michel Preud'hommeFootball
1988Eric GeboersMotocross
1987Ingrid LempereurSwimming
1986William Van DijckAthletics
1985align=center colspan=2not awarded
1984André MalherbeMotocross
1983Eddy AnnysAthletics
1982Ingrid BerghmansJudo
1981Annie LambrechtsRoller Skating
1980Belgium national football teamFootball
1979Robert Van de WalleJudo
1978AnderlechtFootball
1977Gaston RahierMotocross
1976Ivo Van DammeAthletics
1975Jean-Pierre BurnyCanoe-Kayak
1974Paul Van HimstFootball
1973Roger De CosterMotocross
1972Karel LismontAthletics
1971Miel PuttemansAthletics
1970Freddy HerbrandAthletics
1969Serge RedingWeightlifting
1968Jacky IckxMotorsports
1967Ferdinand Bracke and Eddy MerckxCycling
1966Raymond CeulemansCue sports
1965First jachtwing of the Belgian Air ComponentAir sports
1964Joël RobertMotocross
1963Aureel VandendriesscheAthletics
1962Gaston RoelantsAthletics
1961Rik Van LooyCycling
1960Flory Van DonckGolf
1959Belgium men's national field hockey teamField Hockey
1958René BaetenMotocross
1957Jacky Brichant and Philippe WasherTennis
1956Gilberte ThirionMotorsports
1955Roger MoensAthletics
1954Adolf VerschuerenCycling
1953Crew of the Yacht Omoo (Mr. and Mrs. Van de Wielle and Fred Debels)Yachting
1952André NoyelleCycling
1951Johny Claes and Jacques IckxMotorsports
1950Briek SchotteCycling
1949Feru MoulinSwimming
1948Etienne GaillyAthletics
1947Micheline Lannoy and Pierre BaugnietFigure Skating
1946Gaston ReiffAthletics
1945Flying personnel of the Belgian Royal Air Force-sectionAir sports
1944align=center colspan=2not awarded
1943Prince Albert de LigneGeneral
1942Pol BraekmanAthletics
1941Jan GuiliniSwimming
1940Fernande CaroenSwimming
1939Commandant Henry de Menten de HorneEquestrianism
1938Hubert Carton de WiartMotorsports
1937Joseph MostertAthletics
1936Ernest DemuyterHot air ballooning
1935Count Arnold de Looz-CorswaremAir sports
1934Union Saint-GilloiseFootball
1933Jef ScherensCycling
1932align=center colspan=2not awarded
1931René Milhoux and Jules TachenyMotorsports
1930Hyacinte RoosenWrestling
1929Georges RonsseCycling
1928Louis Crooy and Victor GroenenAir sports

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wereldkampioene Lotte Kopecky krijgt de Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste 2024. 17 October 2024. nl.
  2. Web site: Olympisch schaatskampioen Bart Swings krijgt dit jaar de Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste. Olympic skating champion Bart Swings will receive the National Trophy for Sports Merit this year. 19 October 2023. nl.
  3. Web site: Wereldkampioen en Vuelta-winnaar Remco Evenepoel krijgt ook Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste. 20 October 2022. nl.
  4. Web site: Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste beloont superseizoen van Aert: "Eddy Merckx belde me". 12 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Red Lions volgen Nina Derwael op met winst van Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste. 7 November 2019 .
  6. Web site: Derwael sleept ook Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste in de wacht: "Unaniem". 8 November 2018.
  7. Web site: David Goffin wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste. 30 November 2017 .
  8. Web site: Thiam wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste 2016. 10 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Nationale Trofee der Sportverdienste 2015 | de Belgische Monarchie.
  10. Web site: Daniel van Buyten wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste. 6 November 2014 .
  11. Web site: Frederik van Lierde krijgt Trofee voor Sportverdienste. 6 December 2013 .
  12. Web site: Evi van Acker wint Nationale Trofee van Sportverdienste 2012. 8 November 2012 .

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