Reigning world discus champion Daniel Stahl was named Swedish Sportsman of the Year for the second time at the Idrottsgalan - the Swedish Sports Awards - which were held in Stockholm on Monday (27) evening.
Stahl thoroughly dominated his event in 2019, winning thirteen of his sixteen competitions which culminated with a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. Stahl also finished the year with nine of the ten best marks in the world and was one of only two throwers to surpass the 70-metre line.
Stahl surpassed the 70-metre line in three competitions in 2019: 70.56m in the Doha Diamond League, 70.89m in Varberg and 71.86m in Bottnaryd on 29 June which moved Stahl to equal fourth on the world all-time list and just under two metres behind Jurgen Schult’s long-standing world record of 74.08m.
Stahl aptly received the award from Martina Andersson, the holder of the World’s Strongest Woman title, before thanking his friends, family and his club for their support as well as another person who has been instrumental in developing his career.
“There is another person that I particularly want to thank and I want to do that with some quotes about a man, a Viking who is mentioned in an Icelandic genealogy. He was tall and strong and had more weapons than any other man in Iceland. He could chop and throw spears, just as well with one hand as with the other,” said Stahl.
“And he could swing his sword so fast that you seemed to see three in the air at once. He swam like a seal and there was no game worth anyone competing with him. He was wise and had foresight, helpful with his advice and deeds to his friends but equally harsh to his enemies. But it was said of him that he loved and he killed with the same warm hand. And his name is Vésteinn Hafsteinsson, my coach.”
Four more athletes were nominated for awards at the Idrottsgalan last night. Last year’s winner Armand Duplantis was also in contention for the Sportsman of the Year award, Tilde Johansson made the shortlist for the Newcomer of the Year award, Angelica Bengtsson was in the running for the Achievement of the Year award and Hafsteinsson also made the Coach of the Year shortlist.
Athletics success at the at the Swedish Sports Awards
Sportsman of the Year winners
2003 - Christian Olsson2004 - Christian Olsson
2005 - Stefan Holm
2018 - Daniel Stahl
2019 - Armand Duplantis
2020 - Daniel Stahl
Sportswoman of the Year winners
2000 - Ludmila Engquist2003 - Kajsa Bergqvist
2005 - Carolina Kluft
2014 - Abeba Aregawi
Newcomer of the Year winners
2002 - Susanna Kallur2004 - Linus Thornblad
2006 - Emma Green
2011 - Angelica Bengtsson
2012 - Moa Hjelmer
2014 - Irene Ekelund
2016 - Khaddi Sagnia
2018 - Armand Duplantis