Hurdler and sprinter
Femke Bol was Dutch Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023.Sprinter and heptathlete
Dafne Schippers won from 2011 to 2017, more times than any other athlete.Sprinter
Tinus Osendarp was the first winner for 1935, when it was called the Sauer Cup.
The Dutch Athlete of the Year (
Dutch: atleet van het jaar) is an annual award given to the most distinguished competitor in the
sport of athletics from the
Netherlands by the
Royal Dutch Athletics Federation (KNAU).[1] A shortlist is drawn up by a group of federation officials and sports journalists and then goes to a vote to the public.[1][2] The award is presented at the annual end-of-year gala of the federation.[2][3][4]
The award for 1935 was inaugurated in 1936 as the Sauer Cup (
Dutch: Sauer-beker). It was renamed to the KNAU Cup in 1947, as the eponymous Sauer had collaborated with the Nazis during
World War II.[5][6] Initially a mixed-gender award, the best Dutch male and female athletes were recognised separately from 1959 onwards. The men's award was called the
Herman van Leeuwen Cup during this period, while the women's award continued as the KNAU Cup. Since 2005, the awards have been known as the Dutch Athlete of the Year,[7][8] and since 2018, it is again a mixed-gender award.[1]
Junior athletes also gained recognition separately through the mixed-gender Albert Spree Cup (
Dutch: Albert Spree-beker) that was first awarded in 1951.[5] From 1959, male and female juniors were recognised separately; junior female athletes gained recognition through the
Fanny Blankers-Koen Plaquette, while the award for junior male athletes continued as the Albert Spree Cup.[5] These were replaced in 2006 by a mixed-gender junior award known as the Talent of the Year. Since 2018, this award has been merged with the Dutch Athlete of the Year award. In the years between 2011 and 2018, a separate award for
para-athletes also existed.[1]
^The Sauer Cup was awarded in March for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
^
abThere were
famine and
fighting in the Netherlands during the last two years of
World War II. In addition, there were athletics equipment shortages at the time.[18]
^The KNAU Cup was awarded in March or April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
^The Herman van Leeuwen Cup and the KNAU Cup were awarded in January–April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.
^The Athlete of the Year was awarded in November or December for performances in that year or in January or February for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.
Hurdler and sprinter
Femke Bol was Dutch Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023.Sprinter and heptathlete
Dafne Schippers won from 2011 to 2017, more times than any other athlete.Sprinter
Tinus Osendarp was the first winner for 1935, when it was called the Sauer Cup.
The Dutch Athlete of the Year (
Dutch: atleet van het jaar) is an annual award given to the most distinguished competitor in the
sport of athletics from the
Netherlands by the
Royal Dutch Athletics Federation (KNAU).[1] A shortlist is drawn up by a group of federation officials and sports journalists and then goes to a vote to the public.[1][2] The award is presented at the annual end-of-year gala of the federation.[2][3][4]
The award for 1935 was inaugurated in 1936 as the Sauer Cup (
Dutch: Sauer-beker). It was renamed to the KNAU Cup in 1947, as the eponymous Sauer had collaborated with the Nazis during
World War II.[5][6] Initially a mixed-gender award, the best Dutch male and female athletes were recognised separately from 1959 onwards. The men's award was called the
Herman van Leeuwen Cup during this period, while the women's award continued as the KNAU Cup. Since 2005, the awards have been known as the Dutch Athlete of the Year,[7][8] and since 2018, it is again a mixed-gender award.[1]
Junior athletes also gained recognition separately through the mixed-gender Albert Spree Cup (
Dutch: Albert Spree-beker) that was first awarded in 1951.[5] From 1959, male and female juniors were recognised separately; junior female athletes gained recognition through the
Fanny Blankers-Koen Plaquette, while the award for junior male athletes continued as the Albert Spree Cup.[5] These were replaced in 2006 by a mixed-gender junior award known as the Talent of the Year. Since 2018, this award has been merged with the Dutch Athlete of the Year award. In the years between 2011 and 2018, a separate award for
para-athletes also existed.[1]
^The Sauer Cup was awarded in March for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
^
abThere were
famine and
fighting in the Netherlands during the last two years of
World War II. In addition, there were athletics equipment shortages at the time.[18]
^The KNAU Cup was awarded in March or April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of those performances is listed.
^The Herman van Leeuwen Cup and the KNAU Cup were awarded in January–April for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.
^The Athlete of the Year was awarded in November or December for performances in that year or in January or February for performances in the previous year. In this table the year of the performances is listed.