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BOA Announce 2009 Olympic Athlete of the Year Winners

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today announced the full list of recipients of the 2009 Olympic Athlete of the Year trophy.

The award was introduced in 2005, to mark the BOA’s Centenary Year and the success of London being awarded the 2012 Olympic Games. The BOA presented a trophy to each of the 33 summer and winter Olympic sports for them to award on an annual basis to their top performing athlete of the year.

To mark outstanding performances in 2009, the following athletes have been awarded the BOA Olympic Athlete of the Year trophy:

Aquatics - Gemma Spofforth
Archery - Simon Terry
Athletics - Phillips Idowu
Badminton - Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark
Basketball - Jo Leedham
Biathlon - Lee Jackson
Bobsleigh - Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke
Boxing - Martin Ward   
Canoeing - Rachel Cawthorn
Cycling - Lizzie Armistead
Curling - Ewan McDonald 
Equestrian - Kristina Cook
Fencing - Richard Kruse
Gymnastics - Beth Tweddle
Hockey - Barry Middleton
Ice Skating - Sinead and John Kerr
Judo - Karina Bryant       
Luge - Adam Rosen
Modern Pentathlon - Heather Fell
Sailing - Paul Goodison     
Shooting - Richard Faulds
Skiing - Chemmy Alcott
Taekwondo - Bianca Walkden
Tennis - Andy Murray
Triathlon - Alistair Brownlee
Volleyball - Lynn Beattie
Weightlifting - Peter Kirkbride
Wrestling - Leon Rattigan

Football, Handball, Ice Hockey, Rowing and Table Tennis are yet to announce their Olympic Athlete of the Year for 2009.

Andy Hunt, BOA Chief Executive:

“Following on from the unprecedented success of Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, 2009 has seen athletes from many of our Olympic sports raise the bar even higher.

“The award of the Olympic Athlete of the Year trophy recognises the quality, focus and commitment of athletes who represent the very best of British talent in their respective Olympic sports.

“With the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, it is fantastic for British winter sport that we have two World Champions.

“I wish all the BOA Olympic Athlete of the Year award winners the very best as they continue their preparations for Vancouver, London and beyond.”

Commenting on receiving their awards:

Triathlon World Champion, Alistair Brownlee:

“Winning the BOA Athlete of the Year award was a great achievement. To receive such a prestigious award just further motivates me to perform at this level.”

Athletics Triple Jump World Champion, Phillips Idowu:

“I’m delighted to be named BOA Athlete of the Year. I am really grateful as it is further recognition of my success this year in Berlin, and how hard I've worked throughout my career in general. Winning gold to become World Triple Jump Champion was amazing and means absolutely everything to me and now I'm more motivated than ever to go on and win more medals."

Artistic Gymnastics World Champion, Beth Tweddle:

“I am delighted to receive the BOA Olympic Athlete of the Year Award. The last 12 months have been fantastic for me personally and indeed for the whole British Gymnastics team. To win double European gold and become World Champion again after a three year break has proved that all of the many hours of hard work put in by myself and my coach has been worth it. This gives me more confidence and motivation to continue to work hard in the gym to hopefully go on to further success in 2010 and beyond."

Ice Dance European Bronze Medallist (with sister Sinead Kerr), John Kerr:

“We are greatly honoured to receive this award and we hope we can continue to build on our successes of this season up to the Olympic Games in February.”

Hockey European Champion and Captain, Barry Middleton:

“I’m obviously very pleased to have won the award but also very surprised.  It’s certainly not something I expected. I think there are a number of people in the squad that have performed excellently this year and could have won it.”

For further information please contact BOA Communications Officer Phil Wilkinson: philip.wilkinson@boa.org.uk / 0207 842 5721.

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