President, sportspress.lu
(Please scroll down for French)
MONDORF, December 17, 2009 - Cyclist Andy Schleck was voted best male athlete of the year by the members of sportspress.lu (Association Luxembourgeoise de la Presse Sportive). It was a landslide victory for this year’s winner of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race who prevailed over his brother Frank and triathlon specialist Dirk Bockel, who came in seventh at the 2009 Iron Man in Hawaii.
Schleck owed his trophy to his outstanding performances throughout the year. The Saxo Bank rider won Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the national championship race. He topped this result off by finishing second overall in the Tour de France.
It was the seventh year in a row that a cyclist has won the title of best sportsman. Kirchen won it 2003 to 2005, 2007 and 2008, with Frank Schleck taking it in 2006. It was the first time that a pair of brothers have finished on the first places in the voting.
As to the female athlete of the year, it was the fifth title for European triathlon vice-champion Liz May, while the ladies’ national table tennis team walked away with the trophy for best team of the year.
The traditional sportspress gala presentation was held before a capacity audience at the auditorium of Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxembourg), in the esteemed presence of ministers Romain Schneider, Jeannot Krecké, Claude Wiseler and Jean-Marie Halsdorf, as well as the President of Luxembourg’s House of Representatives, Laurent Mosar.
The 2009 results
Trophy for best male athlete
- Andy Schleck (cycling) 533 points
- Frank Schleck (cycling) 276
- Dirk Bockel (triathlon) 198
- Raphaël Stacchiotti (swimming) 153
- Kim Kirchen (cycling) 82
- Mario Mutsch (football/soccer) 36
- Mike Schumacher (athletics) 12
- Laurent Carnol (swimming) 12
- Gilles Muller (tennis) 11
- Sascha Palgen (gymnastics) 10
- Steve Blasen (competiton skittles) 7
- Marc Seidel (canoe kayak)
Trophy for best female athlete
- Liz May (triathlon) 522 points
- Ni Xia Lian (table tennis) 257
- Marie Muller (judo) 207
- Christine Mailliet (swimming) 174
- Sarah Rolko (swimming) 170
Challenge for best team
- Table tennis (ladies national team) 466 points
- Handball (HB Esch male team) 350
- Football/Soccer (Déifferdang 03) 304
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French
Andy Schleck a été sacré meilleur sportif de l’année par les membres de sportspress.lu (Association Luxembourgeoise de la Presse Sportive). Ce fut un véritable plébiscite pour le vainqueur de Liège-Bastogne-Liège qui triompha devant son frère Frank et le triathlète Dirk Bockel
Côté femmes, c’est la triathlète Liz May qui gagna son 5e titre tandis que les dames de l’équipe nationale de tennis de table s’adjugèrent le trophée chez les équipes.
La soirée de gala se déroula dans la salle des fêtes archicomble du Casino 2000 à Mondorf-les-Bains (LUX) en présence notamment des ministres Romain Schneider, Jeannot Krecké, Claude Wiseler et Jean-Marie Halsdorf ainsi que du président de la Chambre des députés, Laurent Mosar.
Les résultats
Trophée du meilleur sportif
- Andy Schleck (cyclisme) 533 points
- Frank Schleck (cyclisme) 276
- Dirk Bockel (triathlon) 198
- Raphaël Stacchiotti (natation) 153
- Kim Kirchen (cyclisme) 82
- Mario Mutsch (football) 36
- Mike Schumacher (athlétisme) 12
- Laurent Carnol (natation) 12
- Gilles Muller (tennis) 11
- Sascha Palgen (gymnastique) 10
- Steve Blasen (quilles sport) 7
- Marc Seidel (canoë kayak)
Trophée de la meilleure sportive
- Liz May (triathlon) 522 points
- Ni Xia Lian (tennis de table) 257
- Marie Muller (judo) 207
- Christine Mailliet (natation) 174
- Sarah Rolko (natation) 170
Challenge de la meilleure équipe
- Tennis de table (équipe nationale dames) 466 points
- Handball (HB Esch hommes) 350
- Football (Déifferdang 03) 304
