World No 1 Iga Swiatek added another laurel to her crowded 2022 cabinet by winning the ‘Athlete of the year’ by PAP Poll, consisting of votes from 20 press agencies in Europe.
Founded by Włodzimierz Zrobik and awarded every year since 1958, the European Sportsperson of the Year award honours the sportsperson who has performed the best over the previous year.
Swiatek (118 votes) outpolled Pole Vault world champion Armand Duplantis (106 votes) and F1 world champion Max Verstappen (82 votes) to win the accolade.
The 21-year-old Pole won eight titles, including Roland-Garros and the US Open, in 2022 and also embarked on a 37-match winning streak. She ended the season with 67 wins and nine losses to become the undisputed leader on the WTA Tour.
SWIATEK JOINS GRAF, HINGIS, FEDERER, NADAL AND DJOKOVIC WITH THIS AWARD
Swiatek is only the fourth Polish athlete to win the accolade after football icon Robert Lewandowski in 2020, long jumper Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak in 1958 and former Olympian Irena Szewinska in 1966 and 1974.
Swiatek is also the seventh tennis player to win the award, joining the likes of Steffi Graf, Stefan Edberg, Roger Federer, Martina Hingis, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The Pole, who was also named WTA Player of the Year and ITF World Champion, will begin the 2023 season by representing her nation in the United Cup team event which kicks off in Australia on Thursday.
