# Vlaamse Reus

The Vlaamse Reus (literal translation: Flemish Giant) is an award given to a Flemish person active in sports. Whereas until 2022, it rewarded an individual's great sporting achievements, from 2023 onwards, it rewards individuals active in sports showing a great personality, in this way setting itself apart from other sporting awards in Flanders and Belgium. The award's name is a wordplay on the Flemish Giant rabbit. The award is given every year by the "Vlaamse Bond van Sportjournalisten en -fotografen (VBS)" (Flemish Union of Sports journalists and photographers), with only the Flemish sports journalists and photographers eligible to vote for the winner.
From 2023 onwards, the VBS has created and handed out two additional trophies simultaneously with the Vlaamse Reus: the Sports Journalist of the Year and the Sports Photographer of the year.
Until 2023, the award itself was a sculpture created by Willem Vermandere and from 2024 onwards, a sculpture by ex-judoka Heidi Rakels. Sabine Appelmans was the first person to win the prize. Three athletes won the prize three times: Luc Van Lierde, Kim Gevaert en Kim Clijsters.

## Winners Vlaamse Reus

| Year | Winner | Sport/function | Nominated |
| 1992 | Sabine Appelmans | tennis | |
| 1993 | Gella Vandecaveye | judo | |
| 1994 | Frédérik Deburghgraeve | swimming | |
| 1995 | Johan Museeuw | cycling | |
| 1996 | Luc Van Lierde | triathlon | |
| 1997 | Luc Van Lierde | triathlon | |
| 1998 | Frédérik Deburghgraeve | swimming | |
| 1999 | Luc Van Lierde | triathlon | |
| 2000 | Kim Clijsters | tennis | |
| 2001 | Kim Clijsters | tennis | Raymond Ceulemans, Gella Vandecaveye |
| 2002 | Kim Gevaert | track and field | Kim Clijsters, Stefan Everts |
| 2003 | Marc Herremans | triathlon | Kim Clijsters, Stefan Everts |
| 2004 | Kim Gevaert | track and field | |
| 2005 | Tom Boonen | cycling | Kim Clijsters, Stefan Everts |
| 2006 | Tia Hellebaut | high jump | Stefan Everts, Kim Gevaert |
| 2007 | Kim Gevaert | track and field | Sven Nys, Tia Hellebaut |
| 2008 | Tia Hellebaut | high jump | Kim Gevaert, Sven Nys |
| 2009 | Niels Albert | cyclo-cross | Kim Clijsters, Yanina Wickmayer, Sven Nys, Eline Berings |
| 2010 | Kim Clijsters | tennis | Philippe Le Jeune, Jurgen Van den Broeck |
| 2011 | Thomas Van Der Plaetsen | decathlon | Sven Nys, Jelle Vanendert |
| 2012 | Evi Van Acker | sailing | Tia Hellebaut, Tom Boonen, Sven Nys, Hans Van Alphen, Marieke Vervoort |
| 2013 | Frederik Van Lierde | triathlon | Jan Bakelants, Kirsten Flipkens, Sven Nys, Brian Ryckeman, Bart Swings, Frederik Van Lierde |
| 2014 | Delfine Persoon | boxing | Sven Nys, Bart Swings, Pieter Timmers, Gert Vande Broek, Greg Van Avermaet |
| 2015 | Marieke Vervoort | paralympic athlete | Delfine Persoon, Hein Vanhaezebrouck |
| 2016 | Greg Van Avermaet | cycling | Pieter Timmers, Thomas Van der Plaetsen, Peter Genyn, Jolien D'Hoore, Wout Van Aert, Dirk Van Tichelt, Thomas Pieters |
| 2017 | Nina Derwael | artistic gymnastics | Greg Van Avermaet, Emma Meesseman |
| 2018 | Nina Derwael | artistic gymnastics | Koen Naert, Emma Meesseman, Emma Plasschaert, Bart Swings |
| 2019 | Emma Meesseman | basketball | Nina Derwael, Victor Campenaerts, Remco Evenepoel, Bashir Abdi |
| 2020 | Wout Van Aert | cycling | Bashir Abdi, Romelu Lukaku, Remco Evenepoel, Kevin De Bruyne |
| 2021 | Bashir Abdi | track and field | Miguel Van Damme, Noor Vidts, Matthias Casse, Alexander Hendrickx, Tessa Wullaert |
| 2022 | Remco Evenepoel | cycling | Bart Swings, Lotte Kopecky, Wout Van Aert |
| 2023 | Patrick Lefevere | cycling | |
| 2024 | Jan Vertonghen | football | |

## Statistics

* Won the award 3 times - Luc Van Lierde (1996, 1997 and 1999), Kim Clijsters (2000, 2001 and 2010), Kim Gevaert (2002, 2004 and 2007)
* Won the award 2 times - Frédérik Deburghgraeve (1994 and 1998), Tia Hellebaut (2006 and 2008), Nina Derwael (2017 and 2018)

## Winners Sport Journalist of the Year

| Year | Winner | News Medium |
| 2023 | Peter Vandenbempt | Sporza |
| 2024 | Niels Vleminckx | Het Laatste Nieuws |

## Winners Sport Photographer of the Year

| Year | Winner | News Medium |
| 2023 | Yorick Jansens | Belga |
| 2024 | Peter De Voecht | Photo News |