European Athletics – News – Lavillenie, Schippers, Gemili, Kuchina crowned at Golden Tracks ceremony

France’s Renaud Lavillenie and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands were named European Athletes of the Year at the Golden Tracks awards ceremony in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday evening.

Great Britain’s Adam Gemili and Russia’s Mariya Kuchina claimed the European Athletics Rising Star awards.

With the Golden Tracks being shown live on television and streamed live across the world, all four athletes were present to collect their trophies in a glittering ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel in the iconic Flame Towers.

Pole vaulter Lavillenie, 28, was voted the men’s winner after a season where he was crowned for the third consecutive time at the 2014 European Athletics Championships and also broke Sergey Bubka’s world record which now stands at an impressive 6.16m.

The 22-year-old Schippers surprised most specialists when she elected to compete in the 100m and 200m instead of the heptathlon in Zurich. But her decision paid off beautifully as the Dutch star won both events and left Switzerland with two brilliant gold medals.

Gemili, who just turned 21, sped to a very impressive European 200m title in 19.98 on a cool night and into a headwind. He also anchored the British 4x100m relay team to victory which meant he too left Zurich with two golds around his neck.

The 21-year-old Kuchina, took high jump silver at the European Athletics Championships, won at the European Team Championships, shared gold at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and also won the Diamond Race.

Azerbaijan public television channel iTV produced a 45-minute programme that was made available live to European Broadcasting Union members, with the programme also being broadcast on national television later that evening.

The winning athletes were decided by counting votes from fans, media, European Athletics Member Federations as well as an expert European Athletics panel, with the results from each group of voters counting for one quarter of the athlete's final score.

More than 9,000 fans voted on the Golden Tracks Awards at www.facebook.com/EuropeanAthletics.

Men’s 2014 European Athlete of the Year Top 3

1. Renaud Lavillenie FRA

2. Bogdan Bondarenko UKR

3. Mo Farah GBR

Women’s 2014 European Athlete of the Year Top 3

1. Dafne Schippers NED

2. Anita Wlodarczyk POL

3. Ruth Beitia ESP

Men's 2014 European Athletics Rising Star Top 3

1. Adam Gemili GBR

2. Konrad Bukowiecki POL

3. Wilhem Belocian FRA

Women's 2014 Rising Star Top 3

1. Mariya Kuchina RUS

2. Angelica Moser SUI

3. Anezka Drahotova CZE

 

European Athletics – News