2005 SWEDISH PERFORMER-OF-THE-YEAR
Bragdguldet - the prize handed out by Svenska Dagbladet - is up for grabs tonight here in Sweden.
This is the night-of-nights for sports stars and fans alike across the country. Tonight, one athlete will win bragging honors as the 2005 Performer-of-the-Year.
Who among the choices below, in your opinion, had the best 2005 season?
Bergqvist, Rickardsson, Pärson
Rickardsson, Sörenstam, Klüft
Kajsa Bergqvist: Came back to top form after her achilles injury shut down her 2004 season. Won every competition she entered in 2005, along with her first-ever World outdoor high jump title, and made two good attempts at a WR-height of 2,10m in the competition. Had an incredible seven 2,00m clearances in 14 competitions.
Tony Rickardsson: Speedway king who won Bragdguldet in 1999. Rickardsson took home his sixth World Champs gold in huge fashion... is being likened to New Zealand:s Ivan Mauger in speedway history as those with the most World Champs gold medals.
Anja Pärson: Pärson:s 2005 Alpine season was fantastic: World Champs gold in super-G and slalom, silver in combination racing, a victory in the combined-points world cup - and her career:s first huge race victory. Furthermore, she won world-cup competitions in all disciplines in the same season.
Annika Sörenstam: One of her best years ever on the LPGA tour with 10 victories; even won two of four majors - Nabisco and LPGA-final. One victory on the European tour (Scand TPC). Earlier merits: 56 victories on the USA-tour, of which seven are majors: 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002 , 2 in 2003, 2004.
Carolina Klüft: Klüft won this award in 2003. Klüft followed up her bragging rights by winning the Olympic Gold medal in 2004, European Indoor gold in 2005 and her second-straight Heptathlon World Outdoor title in Helsinki with a gutsy 800m PB performance capping off her hep competition.
Fan pollling opened 24-November on Svenska Dagbladet:s homepage. Rickardsson is the internet fan favorite (15.305 votes) leading into tonight:s gala:
The past 10 winners:
1995: Annika Sörenstam, golf
1996: Agnetta Andersson and Susanne Gunnarsson, canoe
1997: Ludmila Engquist, track & field
1998: National Team, handboll
1999: Tony Rickardsson, speedway
2000: Lars Frölander, swimming
2001: Per Elofsson, xc skiing
2002: Susanne Ljungskog, cycling
2003: Carolina Klüft, track & field
2004: Stefan Holm, track & field
Photo Credits: Svenska Dagbladet.
