Sureyya Ayhan (© Getty Images)
In an internet poll which attracted more than 10,000 voters, Turkey's Süreyya Ayhan and Britain's Dwain Chambers won the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2002, the EAA announced today.
Süreyya Ayhan, the IAAF World Cup winner and European champion at 1500m, clearly won the women's poll ahead of long distance runner Paula Radcliffe (GBR), who is the IAF World Athlete of the Year, and high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist (SWE).
With just a few international races in the second half of the season, the 24 year old Süreyya Ayhan became this season's world number one over 1500m. She won the European Championships in Munich, the World Cup in Madrid and ran three times "sub four". Her time of 3:57.75 from the Golden League meeting in Brussels was the fastest of the season and a national record.
In the men's EAA poll, Dwain Chambers (24) finished ahead of javelin thrower Steve Backley (GBR) and discus thrower Robert Fazekas (HUN). Last summer, Backley became European Champion for the 4th time in a row, while Fazekas won the European title and the World Cup and was world season leader.
Chambers equalled the European 100m record of 9.87 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix Final in Paris, finishing second behind the new world record holder Tim Montgomery. In addition, Chambers was the European 100m Champion in Munich and the winner of the SPAR European Cup in Annecy. In five of his 26 100m races in the 2002 season, Chambers achieved a time below 10 seconds.
Ayhan and Chambers will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held the evening before the European Indoor Cup in Leipzig (GER/14 February).
EAA Rankings -
Men
1 Chambers Dwain GBR 281
2 Backley Steve GBR 224
3 Fazekas Robert HUN 221
4 Jackson Colin GBR 209
5 Kipketer Wilson DEN 206
6 Kenteris Konstantinos GRE 190
7 Edwards Jonathan GBR 176
8 Sebrle Roman CZE 165
9 Korzeniowski Robert POL 150
10 Fernandez Francisco Javier ESP 123
Women
1 Ayhan Süreyya TUR 359
2 Radcliffe Paula GBR 317
3 Bergqvist Kajsa SWE 292
4 Ceplak Jolanda SLO 247
5 Szabo Gabriela ROM 223
6 Feofanova Svetlana RUS 223
7 Kotova Tatyana RUS 130
8 Alozie Glory ESP 113
9 Manjani Mirela GRE 88
10 Hurtis Muriel FRA 81
EAA
