Best Croatian Sportspeople in 2016 Named

65th Sportske Novosti Croatian Sports Awards (photo: Sportske novosti)

Damir Martin and Sandra Perković have taken top individual honours at the 2016 Croatia Sports Awards held on Sunday 18 December 2016.

The 2016 sportswoman of the year went to double Olympic discus champion Sandra Perković, who collected her fifth award in the last five years.

Sandra Perković won back to back golds in Rio (photo credit: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL)

Olympic silver medalist Damir Martin won the top male award. Martin, who is the current European champion, lost in a photo-finish in Rio. Martin is a double world and European champion.

Damir Martin

Olympic gold medal and World Rowing Team of the Year, brothers Valent and Martin Sinković, won the men’s team of the year award for the second consecutive year.

“I want to thank everyone, this is the biggest recommendation I have received in my sports career and life. Competition was huge and I want to thank everyone who recognised my effort and sacrifices I went through”, Martin said.

Sinković brothers (photo credit: FISA Igor Meijer)

“Thank you for the award. I would like to thank all the journalists that voted for us. It was tough to win the award in this category and it is nice to win it”, said Martin upon receiving the award.

Women’s team of the year went to table tennis pair Anđela Mužinić and Helena Dretar Karić.

The awards, organised by leading Croatian daily sports newspaper Sportske Novosti, have been held for the last 65 years in a row.

2016 AWARD WINNERS

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR – Damir Martin (Rowing)
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR – Sandra Perković (Discus)
MEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR – Martin & Valent Sinković (Rowing)
WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR – Anđela Mužinić & Helena Dretar Karić (Table Tenis)
FAIR PLAY AWARD – Branko Radičević (Football)