The Belgian National Sports Merit Award is an annual award handed out to a Belgian sportsperson or -team for exceptional merit. Players can only win the award once during their career, making this trophy one of the most prestigious in Belgian sports. The trophy is awarded by a jury consisting of (former) sports champions (e.g. Paul Van Himst and Ingrid Berghmans), influential sports people and sports journalists and is led by the mayor of Brussels.
The trophy was established in 1928 by Alban Collignon, as a tribute to the founder of the Royal Belgian Aero-club, Fernand Jacobs. Therefore the trophy was in the first four years known as the Fernand Jacobs Award.
Winners YearWinnerSport2025Emma MeessemanBasketball2024Lotte KopeckyCycling2023Bart SwingsSpeed Skating & Roller Skating2022Remco EvenepoelCycling2021Bashir AbdiAthletics2020Wout van AertCycling & Cyclo-cross2019Belgium men's national field hockey teamField Hockey2018Nina DerwaelGymnastics2017David GoffinTennis2016Nafissatou ThiamAthletics2015Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay teamAthletics2014Daniel Van BuytenFootball2013Frederik Van LierdeTriathlon2012Evi Van AckerSailing2011Kevin BorléeAthletics2010Philippe Le JeuneEquestrianism2009Philippe GilbertCycling2008not awarded2007Belgian women's 4 × 100 metres relay teamAthletics2006Kim Gevaert and Tia HellebautAthletics2005Tom BoonenCycling2004Axel MerckxCycling2003Stefan EvertsMotocross2002Marc WilmotsFootball2001Kim Clijsters and Justine HeninTennis2000Joël SmetsMotocross1999Gella VandecaveyeJudo1998Ulla WerbrouckJudo1997Luc Van LierdeTriathlon1996Johan MuseeuwCycling1995Frédérik DeburghgraeveSwimming1994Brigitte BecueSwimming1993Vincent RousseauAthletics1992Annelies BredaelRowing1991Jean-Michel SaiveTable Tennis1990Jan CeulemansFootball1989Michel Preud'hommeFootball1988Eric GeboersMotocross1987Ingrid LempereurSwimming1986William Van DijckAthletics1985not awarded1984André MalherbeMotocross1983Eddy AnnysAthletics1982Ingrid BerghmansJudo1981Annie LambrechtsRoller Skating1980Belgium national football teamFootball1979Robert Van de WalleJudo1978AnderlechtFootball1977Gaston RahierMotocross1976Ivo Van DammeAthletics1975Jean-Pierre BurnyCanoe-Kayak1974Paul Van HimstFootball1973Roger De CosterMotocross1972Karel LismontAthletics1971Miel PuttemansAthletics1970Freddy HerbrandAthletics1969Serge RedingWeightlifting1968Jacky IckxMotorsports1967Ferdinand Bracke and Eddy MerckxCycling1966Raymond CeulemansCue sports1965First jachtwing of the Belgian Air ComponentAir sports1964Joël RobertMotocross1963Aureel VandendriesscheAthletics1962Gaston RoelantsAthletics1961Rik Van LooyCycling1960Flory Van DonckGolf1959Belgium men's national field hockey teamField Hockey1958René BaetenMotocross1957Jacky Brichant and Philippe WasherTennis1956Gilberte ThirionMotorsports1955Roger MoensAthletics1954Adolf VerschuerenCycling1953Crew of the Yacht Omoo (Mr. and Mrs. Van de Wielle and Fred Debels)Yachting1952André NoyelleCycling1951Johny Claes and Jacques IckxMotorsports1950Briek SchotteCycling1949Feru MoulinSwimming1948Etienne GaillyAthletics1947Micheline Lannoy and Pierre BaugnietFigure Skating1946Gaston ReiffAthletics1945Flying personnel of the Belgian Royal Air Force-sectionAir sports1944not awarded1943Prince Albert de LigneGeneral1942Pol BraekmanAthletics1941Jan GuiliniSwimming1940Fernande CaroenSwimming1939Commandant Henry de Menten de HorneEquestrianism1938Hubert Carton de WiartMotorsports1937Joseph MostertAthletics1936Ernest DemuyterHot air ballooning1935Count Arnold de Looz-CorswaremAir sports1934Union Saint-GilloiseFootball1933Jef ScherensCycling1932not awarded1931René Milhoux and Jules TachenyMotorsports1930Hyacinte RoosenWrestling1929Georges RonsseCycling1928Louis Crooy and Victor GroenenAir sports
See also Belgian Sportsman of the year Belgian Sports Personality of the Year
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