The season in track and field has come to an end, but for Maria Lasicken, high jumper, this does not mean that the flow of trophies into her collection has stopped before the winter competitions. On October 26, at a ceremony in Tallinn, she was recognized as the best athlete of the year according to the European Athletics Association (EAA). The award was shared with her by the Norwegian Carsten Warholm, specializing in hurdling 400 meters.
For several years now, Lasickene has absolutely dominated her discipline, winning all the most significant competitions at which she manages to compete. Since 2014, when she began to perform at an adult level, the athlete won three world championships in the open air and two more indoors, once won the European Championship and twice in the continental championship in the halls, four times won the main prize in the Diamond League ". Lasickene has shown the best results over the past three seasons, completing almost every competition with successful attempts at 2 meters.
For all this, Lasicken has never been recognized as the best among all athletes in the world or in Europe. Of course, comparing performance in such a diverse sport is quite difficult, because jumpers do not compete directly with runners, walkers and throwers. Moreover, athletics is the most popular individual sport, and there are especially many worthy candidates for the title of best of the best.
Two years ago, Lasickene could well have earned recognition among her colleagues when she triumphantly returned after a year absence at international competitions due to the removal of the All-Russian Athletics Federation. Then Lasicki did not lose a single start, and the best result was a jump of 2.06 m, where no athlete has climbed in the past five years. The legendary win-win series of Russians from 45 starts lasted until June 2018, but even then, the European Federation and the international did not note the merits of Mary.
This season, finally, it happened. Lasickene started it by winning the European Indoor Championships, then broke the record for the number of world championships in women's high jumps, once again won the Diamond League overall standings, and ended the year with a victory at the World War Games, where she performed under the Russian flag instead of neutral. Lasickene again in her best attempt took a height of 2.06 m, unattainable for all rivals, and conquered the two-meter bar in 18 competitions. The total native of the city of Prokhladny won 22 starts out of 24.
“I am honored to receive this award and become the best athlete of the year according to the European Athletics Association. It was a wonderful year, and I am delighted to be the first three-time world champion in high jumps, ”said Lasickene after the award ceremony.
It is interesting that in 2014, the athlete was recognized as the rising star of athletics in Europe when she won her first winter world championship. Five years later, she already became a star among adult athletes.
“Five years ago, I could not imagine that today would come. Then I was just glad that I was recognized as a rising star. Now I am proud of myself, proud of my coach, proud of the work done and very happy. This suggests that we are going in the right direction, ”said the athlete.
VFLA President Dmitry Shlyakhtin congratulated Lasitskene on the victory, appreciating her achievements in the past season.
“Having entered the history of world high jump as the first three-time world champion, Maria has done incredible things this season. And I think that in the short list, Lasicken stood apart and won this title today not only well-deservedly, but also very confidently, ”Shlyakhtin quotes TASS.
The head coach of the Russian national jumping team, Anton Nazarov, called the Lasitskene award a holiday for domestic athletics and wished her to win the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the future.
“It is very healthy for all Russian athletics, for all of us this is a great holiday. Maria - the greatest athlete of our time, deserved this award. It is good that she was appreciated in Europe and the world. She knows how to work, how to achieve her goals. She won almost all the titles that are, but has not yet been an Olympic champion. And Mary will prepare for the Games to win. Maria is a very kind and open person, a wonderful athlete. She spent the past season with dignity, won brilliant victories at many starts, ”RIA Novosti quoted Nazarov as saying.
In the near future, Lasickens will have the opportunity to become the best, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is playing its prize for athletes of the year. The Russian woman was among the 11 selected candidates. Both the organization itself and the fans using social networks will choose the best from them. Voting will close on November 5, and on the 23rd, winners among men and women will be announced at a ceremony in Monaco.
Female Athlete of the Year nominee
Mariya Lasitskene:
- won the world high jump title with 2.04m
- jumped a world-leading 2.06m in Ostrava
- won 21 of her 23 competitions, indoors and outdoors
Have your say - voting closes November 5th🗳 pic.twitter.com/toaGpxwTq5