Sportsman of the Year (Estonia)

The Athlete of the Year award has been officially presented in Estonia since 1991. The predecessor is the award given in the Estonian SSR between 1955 and 1990 . Until 1966, only one award was given each year. It was not until 1967 that both the sportswoman and the athlete of the year were honored. Two years later, a team of the year was chosen for the first time. The Coach of the Year award has been given since 1987.

Most of the awards went to the cyclist Erika Salumäe , who has received nine awards.

Prize winners

year	athlete	sportswoman	team	Trainer
2018	Magnus Kirt athletics	Saskia Alusalu speed skating	Ott Tänak , Martin Järveoja Rally	Gheorghe Creţu volleyball
2017	Ott Tänak rally	Julia Beljajeva fencing	National women ( Julia Beljajeva , Irina Embrich , Erika Kirpu , Kristina Kuusk ) epee fencing	Gheorghe Creţu volleyball
2016	Rasmus Mägi athletics	Ksenija Balta athletics	Quads ( Tõnu Endrekson , Kaspar Taimsoo , Allar Raja , Andrei Jämsä ) rowing	Matti Killing rowing
2015	Mart Seim weightlifting	Epp Mäe wrestling	Quads ( Tõnu Endrekson , Kaspar Taimsoo , Allar Raja , Andrei Jämsä ) rowing	Alar Seim weightlifting
2014	Rasmus Mägi athletics	Erika Kirpu fencing	National women ( Julia Beljajeva , Irina Embrich , Erika Kirpu , Kristina Kuusk ) epee fencing	Anne and Taivo Mägi athletics
2013	Nikolai Novosjolov fencing	Julia Beljajeva fencing	National women ( Erika Kirpu , Irina Embrich , Kristina Kuusk , Julia Beljajeva ) epee fencing	Henn Põlluste rings
2012	Heiki Nabi wrestling	Triin Aljand swimming	Quads ( Tõnu Endrekson , Kaspar Taimsoo , Allar Raja , Andrei Jämsä ) rowing	Henn Põlluste rings
2011	Gerd Kanter athletics	Triin Aljand swimming	Men's national football team	Tarmo Rüütli football
2010	Nikolai Novosjolov fencing	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Men's national volleyball team	Avo Keel volleyball
2009	Andrus Veerpalu cross-country skiing	Ksenija Balta athletics	Double sculls ( Allar Raja , Kaspar Taimsoo ) rowing	Mati Alaver cross-country skiing
2008	Gerd Kanter athletics	Kaia Kanepi tennis	Double sculls ( Tõnu Endrekson , Jüri Jaanson ) rowing	Vésteinn Hafsteinsson athletics
2007	Gerd Kanter athletics	Irina Embrich fencing	Double sculls ( Tõnu Endrekson , Jüri Jaanson ) rowing	Vésteinn Hafsteinsson athletics
2006	Andrus Veerpalu cross-country skiing	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Quads ( Tõnu Endrekson , Jüri Jaanson , Allar Raja , Andrei Jämsä ) rowing	Anatoli Šmigun cross-country skiing
2005	Andrus Värnik athletics	Maarika Võsu fencing	Quads ( Tõnu Endrekson , Jüri Jaanson , Leonid Gulov , Andrei Jämsä ) rowing	Heino Puuste athletics
2004	Jüri Jaanson rowing	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Rowing double sculls ( Tõnu Endrekson , Leonid Gulov )	Igor Grinko rowing
2003	Andrus Värnik athletics	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Markko Märtin , Michael Park Rallye	Mati Alaver cross-country skiing
2002	Andrus Veerpalu cross-country skiing	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Women's national team ( Maarika Võsu , Irina Embrich , Olga Aleksejeva , Heidi Rohi ) epee fencing	Mati Alaver cross-country skiing
2001	Andrus Veerpalu cross-country skiing	Heidi Rohi sword fencing	National team of men ( Kaido Kaaberma , Nikolai Novosjolov , Sergei Vaht , Meelis Loit ) epee fencing	Mati Alaver cross-country skiing
2000	Erki Nool athletics	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Markko Märtin , Michael Park Rallye	Aavo Põhjala Judo
1999	Andrus Veerpalu cross-country skiing	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	National team of men épée fencing	Mati Alaver cross-country skiing
1998	Erki Nool athletics	Jane Salumäe Athletics	Men's national team ( Kaido Kaaberma , Andrus Kajak , Meelis Loit ) epee fencing	Anatoli Šmigun cross-country skiing
1997	Erki Nool athletics	Kristina Šmigun-Vähi cross-country skiing	Men's national team ( Erki Nool , Andrei Nazarov , Indrek Kaseorg , Ramon Kaju ) athletics	Rein Sokk athletics
1996	Erki Nool athletics	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Men's national team ( Kaido Kaaberma , Andrus Kajak , Meelis Loit ) epee fencing	Rein Sokk athletics
1995	Jüri Jaanson rowing	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Women's national team ( Maarika Võsu , Merle Esken , Oxana Jermakowa , Heidi Rohi ) epee fencing	Rein Sokk athletics
1994	Ago Markvardt Nordic Combined	Margrit Tooman Swimming	National team ( Ago Markvardt , Allar Levandi , Magnar Freimuth ) Nordic combined	Tiit Tamm Nordic Combined
1993	Indrek Be swimming	Oxana Yermakowa sword fencing	National men's basketball team	Tiit Tamm Nordic Combined
1992	Kaido Kaaberma epee fencing	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Tõnu Tõniste - Toomas Tõniste sailing	Purely Ottoson sailing
1991	Tiit Sokk basketball	Kristina Nurk Swimming	Tallinna Kalev (men) basketball	Jaak Salumets basketball
1990	Jüri Jaanson rowing	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Tõnu Tõniste - Toomas Tõniste sailing	Mihkel Leppik rowing
1989	Jaan Ehlvest Chess	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Tallinna Kalev (men) basketball	Mihkel Leppik rowing
1988	Allar Levandi Nordic Combined	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Tõnu Tõniste - Toomas Tõniste sailing	Purely Ottoson sailing
1987	Jaan Ehlvest Chess	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Tallinna Kalev (men) basketball	Jaak Salumets basketball
1986	Heino Puuste athletics	Kaija Parve biathlon	National team of men épée fencing	-
1985	Riho Suun cycling race	Kaija Parve biathlon	Road bike foursome ( Riho Suun , Toomas Kirsipuu , Ivar Mones , Pavel Matvejev ) cycling race	-
1984	Tiit Haagma ice sailing	Erika Salumäe cycling race	Road bike foursome ( Tõnu Roosmäe , Arvi Tammesalu , Ivar Mones , Pavel Matvejev ) cycling races	-
1983	Heino Puuste athletics	Erika Salumäe cycling race	TRÜ women's basketball	-
1982	Heino Puuste athletics	Inna Rose sport shooting	Vello Õunpuu - Taarne Timusk Rally	-
1981	Jüri Poljans canoeing	Inna Rose sport shooting	Heiki Ohu - Tooma's servant rally	-
1980	Jaak Uudmäe athletics	Marina Trofimova swimming	Eedo Raide - Georg Valdek Rally	-
1979	Jaak Uudmäe athletics	Thatch palm row	Double sculls ( Gennadi Kinko - Tiit Helmja ) rowing	-
1978	Aavo Pikkuus cycling race	Thatch palm row	TNLV women's handball	-
1977	Aavo Pikkuus cycling race	Kaire Indrikson swimming	Tallinna Kalev (men) volleyball	-
1976	Aavo Pikkuus cycling race	Liivi Erm sport shooting	Double sculls ( Gennadi Kinko - Tiit Helmja ) rowing	-
1975	Aavo Pikkuus cycling race	Virve Holtsmeier archery	Soling crew ( Aleksander Tšutšelov , Valdur Silvere , Vladimir Stepanov ) sailing	-
1974	Aavo Pikkuus cycling race	Endla Vellend archery	Soling crew ( Aleksander Tšutselov , Juri Sazhenkov , Vladimir Stepanov ) sailing	-
1973	Ain Vilde ice sailing	Illa Raudik diving	Tartu Kalev foursome ( Gennadi Kinko , Jaan Ratassepp , Toivo Zoova , Toivo Ormisson ) rowing	-
1972	Jaan Talts weightlifting	Raissa Ruus athletics	Tartu Kalev twos ( Gennadi Kinko , Toivo Ormisson ) rowing	-
1971	Vambola helmet motorcycle racing	Luule Tull motorcycle racing	National men's basketball team	-
1970	Jaan Talts weightlifting	Tiiu Parmas tennis	Tallinna Kalev (men) basketball	-
1969	Jaan Talts weightlifting	Svetlana Tširkova foil fencing	Tartu Kalev (men) basketball	-
1968	Jaan Talts weightlifting	Laine Erik athletics	-	-
1967	Jaan Talts weightlifting	Laine Erik athletics	-	-
1966	Mart Vilt athletics	-	-	-
1965	Toomas Leius tennis	-	-	-
1964	Ants Antson speed skating	-	-	-
1963	Toomas Leius tennis	-	-	-
1962	Paul Keres chess	-	-	-
1961	Toomas Leius tennis	-	-	-
1960	Hanno Selg Modern pentathlon	-	-	-
1959	Paul Keres chess	-	-	-
1958	Uno Palu athletics	-	-	-
1957	-	Ulvi Voog swimming	-	-
1956	Uno Palu athletics	-	-	-
1955	Feliks Pirts athletics	-	-	-

Most frequent award winners (athletes)

Nine awards: Erika Salumäe
Eight awards: Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Seven awards: Jüri Jaanson (three times as an individual athlete, four times as a team spotter)
Five awards: Jaan Talts , Aavo Pikkuus , Andrus Veerpalu
Four awards: Erki Nool

Web links

Estonian athletes of the year 1955–2009 ( Memento from April 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (Estonian)
Detailed evaluation of the elections 1955-2004 (Estonian)