The Vlaamse Reus (literal translation: Flemish Giant) is an award given to a Flemish person active in sports. Whereas until 2022, it rewarded an individual's great sporting achievements, from 2023 onwards, it rewards individuals active in sports showing a great personality, in this way setting itself apart from other sporting awards in Flanders and Belgium. The award's name is a wordplay on the Flemish Giant rabbit. The award is given every year by the "Vlaamse Bond van Sportjournalisten en -fotografen (VBS)" (Flemish Union of Sports journalists and photographers), with only the Flemish sports journalists and photographers eligible to vote for the winner.
From 2023 onwards, the VBS has created and handed out two additional trophies simultaneously with the Vlaamse Reus: the Sports Journalist of the Year and the Sports Photographer of the year.
Until 2023, the award itself was a sculpture created by Willem Vermandere and from 2024 onwards, a sculpture by ex-judoka Heidi Rakels. Sabine Appelmans was the first person to win the prize. Three athletes won the prize three times: Luc Van Lierde, Kim Gevaert en Kim Clijsters.
Winners Vlaamse Reus
Statistics
- Won the award 3 times - Luc Van Lierde (1996, 1997 and 1999), Kim Clijsters (2000, 2001 and 2010), Kim Gevaert (2002, 2004 and 2007)
- Won the award 2 times - Frédérik Deburghgraeve (1994 and 1998), Tia Hellebaut (2006 and 2008), Nina Derwael (2017 and 2018)
Winners Sport Journalist of the Year
Year | Winner | News Medium |
---|---|---|
2023 | Peter Vandenbempt | Sporza |
2024 | Niels Vleminckx | Het Laatste Nieuws |
Winners Sport Photographer of the Year
Year | Winner | News Medium |
---|---|---|
2023 | Yorick Jansens | Belga |
2024 | Peter De Voecht | Photo News |
References
- "Vlaamse Reus 2024" (in Dutch). 2024-01-13.
- "Van Avermaet vangt nu ook Vlaamse Reus in prijzenstrooptocht". 2016-12-02.
- "Topatlete Heidi Rakels maakt de Vlaamse Reus" [Top athlete Heidi Rakels creates the Flemish Giant] (in Dutch). 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- "Kim Clijsters wint "Vlaamse Reus 2001"".
- "Kim Gevaert "Vlaamse Reus" 2002".
- "Nog een prijs voor Boonen: De Vlaamse Reus 2005".
- "Tia Hellebaut krijgt Vlaamse Reus".
- "Kim Gevaert is Vlaamse Reus van 2007".
- "Tia Hellebaut is de Vlaamse Reus van 2008".
- "Veldrijder Niels Albert wint de Vlaamse Reus". 4 December 2009.
- "Kim Clijsters wint Vlaamse Reus".
- "Meerkamper van der Plaetsen is Vlaamse Reus 2011". 2 December 2011.
- "Vlaamse Reus 2012: Uitslag en erelijst".
- "Frederik van Lierde wint Vlaamse Reus 2013".
- "Boksster Delfine Persoon wint de Vlaamse Reus 2014". 5 December 2014.
- "Marieke Vervoort is Vlaamse Reus 2015". 4 December 2015.
- "Greg van Avermaet wint Vlaamse Reus 2016".
- "Gymnaste Nina Derwael wint Vlaamse Reus: "Ik ben zelf toch een beetje verbaasd"".
- "Nina Derwael steekt voor het tweede jaar op rij Vlaamse Reus op zak". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- "Meesseman wint haar eerste Vlaamse Reus, voor Derwael en Campenaerts". 2019-12-06.
- "Bashir Abdi ziet boerenjaar bekroond met Vlaamse Reus, ook Peter Genyn gelauwerd". 2021-12-03.
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