Belgian National Sports Merit Award
Annual sports award
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
| Year | Winner | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bart Swings[1] | Speed Skating & Roller Skating |
| 2022 | Remco Evenepoel[2] | Cycling |
| 2021 | Bashir Abdi | Athletics |
| 2020 | Wout van Aert[3] | Cycling & Cyclo-cross |
| 2019 | Belgium men's national field hockey team[4] | Field Hockey |
| 2018 | Nina Derwael[5] | Gymnastics |
| 2017 | David Goffin[6] | Tennis |
| 2016 | Nafissatou Thiam[7] | Athletics |
| 2015 | Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team[8] | Athletics |
| 2014 | Daniel Van Buyten[9] | Football |
| 2013 | Frederik Van Lierde[10] | Triathlon |
| 2012 | Evi Van Acker[11] | Sailing |
| 2011 | Kevin Borlée | Athletics |
| 2010 | Philippe Le Jeune | Equestrianism |
| 2009 | Philippe Gilbert | Cycling |
| 2008 | not awarded | |
| 2007 | Belgian women's 4 × 100 metres relay team | Athletics |
| 2006 | Kim Gevaert and Tia Hellebaut | Athletics |
| 2005 | Tom Boonen | Cycling |
| 2004 | Axel Merckx | Cycling |
| 2003 | Stefan Everts | Motocross |
| 2002 | Marc Wilmots | Football |
| 2001 | Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin | Tennis |
| 2000 | Joël Smets | Motocross |
| 1999 | Gella Vandecaveye | Judo |
| 1998 | Ulla Werbrouck | Judo |
| 1997 | Luc Van Lierde | Triathlon |
| 1996 | Johan Museeuw | Cycling |
| 1995 | Frédérik Deburghgraeve | Swimming |
| 1994 | Brigitte Becue | Swimming |
| 1993 | Vincent Rousseau | Athletics |
| 1992 | Annelies Bredael | Rowing |
| 1991 | Jean-Michel Saive | Table Tennis |
| 1990 | Jan Ceulemans | Football |
| 1989 | Michel Preud'homme | Football |
| 1988 | Eric Geboers | Motocross |
| 1987 | Ingrid Lempereur | Swimming |
| 1986 | William Van Dijck | Athletics |
| 1985 | not awarded | |
| 1984 | André Malherbe | Motocross |
| 1983 | Eddy Annys | Athletics |
| 1982 | Ingrid Berghmans | Judo |
| 1981 | Annie Lambrechts | Roller Skating |
| 1980 | Belgium national football team | Football |
| 1979 | Robert Van de Walle | Judo |
| 1978 | Anderlecht | Football |
| 1977 | Gaston Rahier | Motocross |
| 1976 | Ivo Van Damme | Athletics |
| 1975 | Jean-Pierre Burny | Canoe-Kayak |
| 1974 | Paul Van Himst | Football |
| 1973 | Roger De Coster | Motocross |
| 1972 | Karel Lismont | Athletics |
| 1971 | Miel Puttemans | Athletics |
| 1970 | Freddy Herbrand | Athletics |
| 1969 | Serge Reding | Weightlifting |
| 1968 | Jacky Ickx | Motorsports |
| 1967 | Ferdinand Bracke and Eddy Merckx | Cycling |
| 1966 | Raymond Ceulemans | Cue sports |
| 1965 | First jachtwing of the Belgian Air Component | Air sports |
| 1964 | Joël Robert | Motocross |
| 1963 | Aureel Vandendriessche | Athletics |
| 1962 | Gaston Roelants | Athletics |
| 1961 | Rik Van Looy | Cycling |
| 1960 | Flory Van Donck | Golf |
| 1959 | Belgium men's national field hockey team | Field Hockey |
| 1958 | René Baeten | Motocross |
| 1957 | Jacky Brichant and Philippe Washer | Tennis |
| 1956 | Gilberte Thirion | Motorsports |
| 1955 | Roger Moens | Athletics |
| 1954 | Adolf Verschueren | Cycling |
| 1953 | Crew of the Yacht Omoo (Mr. and Mrs. Van de Wielle and Fred Debels) | Yachting |
| 1952 | André Noyelle | Cycling |
| 1951 | Johny Claes and Jacques Ickx | Motorsports |
| 1950 | Briek Schotte | Cycling |
| 1949 | Feru Moulin | Swimming |
| 1948 | Etienne Gailly | Athletics |
| 1947 | Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet | Figure Skating |
| 1946 | Gaston Reiff | Athletics |
| 1945 | Flying personnel of the Belgian Royal Air Force-section | Air sports |
| 1944 | not awarded | |
| 1943 | Prince Albert de Ligne | General |
| 1942 | Pol Braekman | Athletics |
| 1941 | Jan Guilini | Swimming |
| 1940 | Fernande Caroen | Swimming |
| 1939 | Commandant Henry de Menten de Horne | Equestrianism |
| 1938 | Hubert Carton de Wiart | Motorsports |
| 1937 | Joseph Mostert | Athletics |
| 1936 | Ernest Demuyter | Hot air ballooning |
| 1935 | Count Arnold de Looz-Corswarem | Air sports |
| 1934 | Union Saint-Gilloise | Football |
| 1933 | Jef Scherens | Cycling |
| 1932 | not awarded | |
| 1931 | René Milhoux and Jules Tacheny | Motorsports |
| 1930 | Hyacinte Roosen | Wrestling |
| 1929 | Georges Ronsse | Cycling |
| 1928 | Louis Crooy and Victor Groenen | Air sports |
See also
References
- ^ "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] (in Dutch). 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Wereldkampioen en Vuelta-winnaar Remco Evenepoel krijgt ook Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste" (in Dutch). 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste beloont superseizoen van Aert: "Eddy Merckx belde me"". 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Red Lions volgen Nina Derwael op met winst van Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste". 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Derwael sleept ook Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste in de wacht: "Unaniem"". 8 November 2018.
- ^ "David Goffin wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste". 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Thiam wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste 2016". 10 November 2016.
- ^ "Nationale Trofee der Sportverdienste 2015 | de Belgische Monarchie".
- ^ "Daniel van Buyten wint Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste". 6 November 2014.
- ^ "Frederik van Lierde krijgt Trofee voor Sportverdienste". 6 December 2013.
- ^ "Evi van Acker wint Nationale Trofee van Sportverdienste 2012". 8 November 2012.
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Belgian National Sports Merit Award
- 1928 Louis Crooy and Victor Groenen
- 1929 Georges Ronsse
- 1930 Hyacinte Roosen
- 1931 René Milhoux and Jules Tacheny
- 1932 not awarded
- 1933 Jef Scherens
- 1934 Union SG
- 1935 Count Arnold de Looz-Corswarem
- 1936 Ernest Demuyter
- 1937 Joseph Mostert
- 1938 Hubert Carton de Wiart
- 1939 Commandant Henry de Menten de Horne
- 1940 Fernande Caroen
- 1941 Jan Guilini
- 1942 Pol Braekman
- 1943 Prince Albert de Ligne
- 1944 not awarded
- 1945 Flying personnel of the Belgian Royal Air Force-section
- 1946 Gaston Reiff
- 1947 Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet
- 1948 Étienne Gailly
- 1949 Feru Moulin
- 1950 Briek Schotte
- 1951 Johnny Claes and Jacky Ickx
- 1952 André Noyelle
- 1953 Crew of the Yacht Omoo (Mr. and Mrs. Van de Wielle and Fred Debels)
- 1954 Adolph Verschueren
- 1955 Roger Moens
- 1956 Gilberte Thirion
- 1957 Jacques Brichant and Philippe Washer
- 1958 René Baeten
- 1959 Belgium men's national field hockey team
- 1960 Flory Van Donck
- 1961 Rik Van Looy
- 1962 Gaston Roelants
- 1963 Aurèle Vandendriessche
- 1964 Joël Robert
- 1965 First jachtwing of the Belgian Air Component
- 1966 Raymond Ceulemans
- 1967 Ferdinand Bracke and Eddy Merckx
- 1968 Jacky Ickx
- 1969 Serge Reding
- 1970 Freddy Herbrand
- 1971 Emiel Puttemans
- 1972 Karel Lismont
- 1973 Roger De Coster
- 1974 Paul Van Himst
- 1975 Jean-Pierre Burny
- 1976 Ivo Van Damme
- 1977 Gaston Rahier
- 1978 Anderlecht
- 1979 Robert Van de Walle
- 1980 Belgium national football team
- 1981 Annie Lambrechts
- 1982 Ingrid Berghmans
- 1983 Eddy Annys
- 1984 André Malherbe
- 1985 not awarded
- 1986 William Van Dijck
- 1987 Ingrid Lempereur
- 1988 Eric Geboers
- 1989 Michel Preud'homme
- 1990 Jan Ceulemans
- 1991 Jean-Michel Saive
- 1992 Annelies Bredael
- 1993 Vincent Rousseau
- 1994 Brigitte Becue
- 1995 Fred Deburghgraeve
- 1996 Johan Museeuw
- 1997 Luc Van Lierde
- 1998 Ulla Werbrouck
- 1999 Gella Vandecaveye
- 2000 Joël Smets
- 2001 Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin
- 2002 Marc Wilmots
- 2003 Stefan Everts
- 2004 Axel Merckx
- 2005 Tom Boonen
- 2006 Kim Gevaert and Tia Hellebaut
- 2007 Belgian Women's 4×100 metres relay team
- 2008 not awarded
- 2009 Philippe Gilbert
- 2010 Philippe Le Jeune
- 2011 Kevin Borlée
- 2012 Evi Van Acker
- 2013 Frederik Van Lierde
- 2014 Daniel Van Buyten
- 2015 Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team
- 2016 Nafissatou Thiam
- 2017 David Goffin
- 2018 Nina Derwael
- 2019 Belgium men's national field hockey team
- 2020 Wout van Aert
- 2021 Bashir Abdi
- 2022 Remco Evenepoel
- 2023 Bart Swings
