These are the winners of the Sports Gala
The winners of the Zoetermeer sports awards have been announced. Alderman Ronald Weerwag (Sports) presented the awards on Friday evening during the annual sports gala in a packed Stadstheater. The festive evening was presented by former top athlete Gregory Sedoc.
The jury, consisting of Ronald Weerwag (alderman for Sport), Jorrit Smit (Sportakkoord Zoetermeer) Hans Beukema (sports journalist) Ed Bontrop (KPN Sportfonds) and Jean-Louis Da Costa Gomez (Team Leader Working on Sports City The Hague) chose the following winners:
Sports Talent of the Year 2023: Jayden Paton (gymnastics)
Jayden has been practicing gymnastics since he was 6 years old and has been in the KNGU's junior selection since he was 7 years old. In the past year he has developed enormously and he has shown this at the NK 2023 where he won 5 medals at the highest level. He also achieved great performances at the international level.
Sports Coach of the Year 2023: Marlies Larssen (High Jump)
Marlies Larsen, the trainer of Douwe Amels (Sportsman of the Year 2023), has given him the confidence to still perform great despite his long career. She has laid out both physical and mental plans for Douwe, focused on the European Championships and joint preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Their cooperation is the key to further athletic success.
Unique athlete of the year 2023: Elise Reedijk (Karate)
The only 18-year-old Elise has been training at Budoschool Kai Sei for 6 years. Since the beginning of this year, Elise is officially part of the national selection kata U18/seniors and is multiple Dutch champion. She practices Para-Karate, competing in the kata section. On November 23, 2019, Elise became the first Dutch I-Karate/Para-Karate champion. In the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, she managed to prolong her Dutch title. During this period, she achieved several international successes, including bronze at the World Karate Global Championships in Hungary.
Most socially engaged sports provider 2023: Teamwork Care
Teamwerk Care organizes weekly sports activities for people with mental, physical or intellectual disabilities and those who feel lonely. In an accessible way, participants can be introduced to various sports, which promotes health and provides an opportunity to meet new people. After 1.5 years, this activity has already produced many new friendships, thanks in part to Femke Eijsackers and Sanaa van Dijk who are fully committed to an enjoyable activity every Saturday.
Sportswoman of the year 2023 Noga Piepenbroek Pole vaulting
On Feb. 18, 2023, ARV Ilion's Noga Piepenbroek captured the Dutch indoor pole vaulting championship in the senior women's event, with a jump of 3.90 meters. This title follows her six previous Dutch victories, continuing to crown her impressive athletic career.
Sportsman of the year 2023: Douwe Amels (high jump)
Douwe Amels, ARV Ilion's high jumper, earned a gold medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul by an impressive leap of 2.31 meters. At the NK indoor in Apeldoorn, he added his ninth Dutch title, bringing his total of national championships to 18 (including nine outdoors). Despite his long-term domination at the national level, Amels' international impact so far has been modest. With this historic gold medal in the technical event, he has now convincingly rectified that.
Sports team of the year 2023: Taverzo 1 (table tennis)
Taverzo 1 became national champions in May 2023. In fall 2023, the team finished at the top of the premier league again. Taverzo's table tennis team is now a household name in the Netherlands. With the exception of May 2021, Taverzo has continuously reached the finals in all fully played competitions since 2009. That resulted in 8 national championships, namely in 2010, 2013 to 2017 and 2022 to 2023.
Important work
"Zoetermeer is a Sports City with an extensive sports landscape. Our athletes and sports providers put up very nice performances and we are proud of that. The category for sports coach of the year is there specifically to emphasize how important we think the work of all these volunteers is," stated Alderman Sports Ronald Weerwag (LHN).
"In addition to announcing our Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, this year we also have winners in the G-Sporter (athletes with disabilities) and Sports Coach of the Year categories. With this we want to emphasize that sport is and should be there for everyone. But also that athletes do not do it alone, but often guided and supported by their coach."
