Olofsson and Williams in the lead
After 15 days of voting for IWGA Athlete of the Year, the 9 best candidates now proceed to the final round that continues until 31 January. Muaythai fighter, World Champion Sofia Olofsson (SWE) is leading the polls with 2,470 votes, ahead of Powerlifting World Champion and World Record holder Ray Williams (USA) with 1,774 votes. In third place is last year’s fastest man in Sport Climbing, Speed World Champion Marcin Dzieński (POL), with 1,028 votes.
The race is, however, far from over: there are still 16 days to go! Big changes can take place just within a few days, if athletes and federations can mobilise their supporters: the Canoe Polo couple Johan Driessen and Margret Neher (GER), for example, have tripled their votes in just two days and have climbed from 11th place to 8th, making them finalists.
The voting continues on the IWGA homepage. Everyone can vote for their favourite once per day until 31st January. The IWGA Athlete of the Year 2016 will be announced on 1st February. Previous Athletes of the Year include Marcel Hassemeier (CZE, Life Saving, 2013), Ultimate Flying Disc Team USA (2013), Adam Ondra (CZE, Sport Climbing, 2014) and Mwai Kumwenda (MAW, Netball, 2015).
Learn more about our candidates and cast your vote here!
Votes after the first round:
| 1) |
Sofia Olofsson (SWE), Muaythai |
2,470 |
| 2) |
Ray Williams (USA), Powerlifting |
1,774 |
| 3) |
Marcin Dzieński (POL), Sport Climbing |
1,028 |
| 4) |
Gabriele Goffredo & Anna Matus (MDA), DanceSport |
806 |
| 5) |
Tove Alexandersson (SWE), Orienteering |
617 |
| 6) |
Mixed Team (USA), Flying Disc |
537 |
| 7) |
Peter Kotilainen (FIN), Floorball |
431 |
| 8) |
Johan Driessen & Margret Neher (GER), Canoe Polo |
406 |
| 9) |
Freddy Krueger (USA), Waterskiing |
403 |
| 10) |
Mike Schloesser (NED), Archery |
268 |
| 11) |
Mirnesa & Mirneta Becirovic AUT), Ju-jitsu |
190 |
| 12) |
Francesca Lollobrigida (ITA), Roller Sports |
140 |
| 13) |
Women's Squad (CHN), Tug-of-war |
122 |
| 14) |
Men’s Group Acrobatic Gymnastics (CHN) |
85 |
| 15) |
Byambajav Ulambaryar (MGL), Sumo |
63 |
| 16) |
Giana Lotfy (EGY), Karate |
56 |
Learn more about our candidates and cast your vote here!