European honour for Bucher
Swiss runner André Bucher has been named European Athlete of the Year by the European Athletic Association.
More than 2200 officials, journalists, athletes and fans from 48 countries voted to decide the prize, which has been awarded since 1993. Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny took second place, with the Lithuanian discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna in third.
Tuesday’s award rounded off an exceptional year for the 800-metre world champion. In addition to winning the world title in Edmonton, Bucher was also named Swiss Sportsman of the Year and was a runner up in the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Athlete of the Year competition.
The female European Athlete of the Year was awarded to the Austrian 800-metre runner Stephanie Graf, with Ukrainian 100-and 200-metre specialist Schanna Pintusewitsch in second and Romanian long distance runner Gabriela Szabo in third place.
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