CCB

Surprised that no one has mentioned this by now, but  defeated  8-7 in the gold medal match for anyone wondering 

Asimaki was retired when I posted this and now 3 years later she is back and going to the Olympics 

There is just a small chance, but Handball.
And 3x3 basketball, if we qualify.

We did it! Wooowww!!! As always they didn't make it easy but this time they held on for the win!
 
I don't even care that we won bronze, our girls are going to the Olympics for the first time since 2008!
 
So many heartbreaking losses in quota games since then. 2012 against Spain when we were World Champions in 2011 and that's how FINA changed their qualification system. Then 2016 against Russia with a 9-7 lead with 2 minutes left and 10-9 lead with 4 seconds left and lost on penalties. Then 2021 when we led the Dutch at halftime and didn't score a single goal the rest of the game.
 
It will be nice to be relaxed during the World Championships and not having to stress about either one of our teams.
 
They did it for themselves and also for the past generations! Some of the best players in the world in the last 10-15 years like Avramidou, Kouvdou, Manolioudaki never got to go to the Olympics. And so many others.
 
So nice to see people like Diamantopoulou who was expected to make her Olympic debut in 2012 as a 16 yo, finally getting to go as a 28 yo! And Asimaki 16 years later in her "second career." Also girls like the Plevritou sisters, Eleftheriadou, Xenaki who shed many tears in past heartbreaks, most of them as teenagers at first, finally getting to go to the Olympics!
 
 
 
I am sorry for our Italian friends. This was so important for us though. I hope you guys qualify via Doha because you deserve it especially for beating USA last year!

Very disappointing tournament for The Netherlands. We are a good team again with some very talented young players, but the crucial match against Romania was a disaster (8-12). I didn't see that result coming. Our boys will build to LA 2028.
 
Congrats to the WC qualifiers!

Tournament 1 (Ranchi, India)
 
Day 1 
 
Pool A 
 
 3-0
 2-0
 
Pool B 
 
 3-0
 0-1

There is just a small chance, but Handball.
And 3x3 basketball, if we qualify.

Why? In the last ten years only once (2019). I live near Apeldoorn, and very happy there is a big tournament again after all these years.

FINAL MEDAL TABLE
1  NETHERLANDS 1 2 0 3 1  UNITED STATES 1 2 0 3 3  CANADA 1 0 1 2 3  FRANCE 1 0 1 2 3  SOUTH AFRICA 1 0 1 2 6  BRAZIL 1 0 0 1 6  CHINA 1 0 0 1 6  KENYA 1 0 0 1 6  SPAIN 1 0 0 1 6  SWITZERLAND 1 0 0 1 11  AUSTRALIA 0 1 1 2 11  GERMANY 0 1 1 2 13  DENMARK 0 1 0 1 13  GREAT BRITAIN 0 1 0 1 13  JAPAN 0 1 0 1 13  SWEDEN 0 1 0 1 17  ALGERIA 0 0 1 1 17  ITALY 0 0 1 1 17  LITHUANIA 0 0 1 1 17  NORWAY 0 0 1 1 17  SERBIA 0 0 1 1  
SPECIAL AWARDS TABLE
1  CANADA 5 2  IRELAND 2 2  ITALY 2 2  NETHERLANDS 2 2  UNITED STATES 2 6  BRAZIL 1 6  DENMARK 1 6  FRANCE 1 6  GERMANY 1 6  JAPAN 1 6  POLAND 1 6  SLOVAKIA 1 6  SPAIN 1  

The Canadians definitely colluded to get themselves all a star recognition 
 
 
Deserved for each of course 

well, day #14 & #15 with the Breakedance events are unbeatable, of course   
 
but tbh, also day #-2, when it all starts, has always a lot of hype (even if it's only about a few not so exciting Football games and that farce named Rugby Sevens in this case)

No clearly the water sport coalition will form a boycott. Say goodbye to sailing, canoeing, rowing, swimming, 1/3 of the triathlon and the 3000m steeplechase

Here’s my votes:
 
I’m still thinking, so this will probably get edited soon, just not right now. 
 
BEST MALE ATHLETE
for sportsmen in Olympic sports
 
#1:  Johannes Høsflot Klaebo (cross-country skiing)
#2:  Jakob Ingebrigtsen (athletics)
#3:  Leon Marchand (swimming)
#4:  Novak Djokovic (tennis)
#5:  Luka Doncic (basketball)
#6:  Mondo Duplantis (athletics)
 
Marco Odermatt (alpine skiing), Johannes Tinges Bo (biathlon), Taiga Hasegawa (snowboarding), Eliud Kipchoge (athletics), Noah Lyles (athletics), and Marcus Kleveland (snowboarding) all miss out. 
 
 
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
for sportswomen in Olympic sports
 
#1:  Sandra Naeslund (freestyle skiing)
#2:  Faith Kipyegon (athletics)
#3:  Melissa Vargas (volleyball)
#4:  Ariarne Titmus (swimming)
#5:  Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing)
#6:  Janja Garnbret (sport climbing)
 
Katie Ledecky (swimming), Lotte Kopecky (track/road cycling), and Femke Bol (athletics) all miss out. 
 
BEST NON-OLYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes in Non-Olympic sports and disciplines
 
#1: Max Verstappen (formula 1)
#2:  Ali Farag (squash)
#3:  Nour El Sherbini (squash)
#4:  Emily Harrop (ski mountaineering)
#5:  Rhiannan Iffland (high diving)
#6:  Apor Gyorgydeak (teqball)
 
Jyothi Vennam (compound archery) and Veronika Windisch (ice cross) miss out. 
 
 
BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes with a disability
 
#1:  Marcel Hug (athletics)
#2:  Stefano Raimondi (swimming)
#3:  Jesper Pedersen (alpine skiing)
#4:  Morteza Mehrzadselakjani (sitting volleyball) 
#5:  Ebba Arsjo (alpine skiing)
#6:  Markus Rehm (athletics)
 
Karen Palomeque (athletics) and Victoria Feige (surfing) would be my next two picks. 
 
 
BEST YOUTH ATHLETE
for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2005) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Connor Bedard (ice hockey)
#2:  Darja Varfolomeev (rhythmic gymnastics) 
#3:  Quan Hongchan (diving)
#4:  Dominika Banevič (“breaking”)
#5:  Rayssa Leal (skateboarding)
#6:  Kaylia Nemour (artistic gymnastics)
 
Summer McIntosh (swimming) would be on here at #2, but I can only nominate one Canadian. 
 
 
BEST MEN'S TEAM
for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  4x7.5km relay (biathlon)
#2:  volleyball team
#3:  show jumping team
#4:  3x3 basketball team
#5:  rugby sevens team
#6:  Team Edin (curling)
 
 
BEST WOMEN'S TEAM
for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  field hockey team
#2:  freestyle relays (swimming)
#3:  rugby sevens team
#4:  Team Tirinzoni (curling)
#5:  volleyball team
#6:  3x3 basketball team
 
Spain’s football team, and United States’s ice hockey team would be my next picks. 
 
 
BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM
for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Chen Yuxi/Quan Hongchan (diving)
#2:  Duda/Ana Patricia (beach volleyball)
#3:  Ruggero Tita/Caterina Banti (sailing)
#4:  Lim Si-Hyeon/Kim Woo-Jin (archery)
#5:  Sam Schroeder/Niels Vink (wheelchair tennis)
#6:  Mol/Sørum (beach volleyball)
 
 
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Qin Haiyang (swimming)
#2:  Xandra Velzeboer (short-track speed skating)
#3:  Emma Finucane (track cycling)
#4:  Jordan Stolz (speed skating)
#5:  Ethan Katzberg (athletics)
#6:  Anna Hall (athletics)
 
If it was including teams, Kloth/Nuss (beach volleyball) would be up there. 
 
 
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2023 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Simone Biles (gymnastics)
#2:  Ruta Meilutyte (swimming)
#3:  Katerina Johnson-Thompson (athletics)
#4:  Cam McEvoy (swimming)
#5:  Elina Svitolina (tennis)
#6:  Jamal Murray (basketball)
 
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1:  win over United States in women’s waterpolo at the World Aquatics Championships
#2:  Femke Bol rebounding from a late race fall in the mixed 4x400m to win gold in the women’s 4x400m at the World Athletics Championships! 
#3:  Adriana Diaz and  Bruna Takahashi’s embrace after the gold medal match in women’s singles table tennis at the Pan American Games
#4:  Canada booking their ticket to the Olympics in men’s basketball at the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 2000
#5:  Novak Djokovic winning three grand slam titles this year, while extending his overall total to 24, winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open. 
#6:  Connor Bedard and  Trevor Zegras scoring Michigan goals on the same day (December 23)
#7:  Miltiadis Tentoglou winning gold in men’s long jump at the World Athletics Championships with his round six attempt. 
 
But also, Canada qualifying for Paris in men’s volleyball, which marks their third consecutive appearance. Really impressive considering we’ve never really been near the top of the World Rankings.

BEST MALE ATHLETE
for sportsmen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Mathieu van der Poel (cycling)  
#2: Leon Marchand (swimming)  
#3: Jordan Stolz (speedskating)  
#4: Carlos Alcaraz (tennis)  
#5: Oliver Zeidler (rowing)  
 
 
 
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
for sportswomen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Femke Bol (athletics)  
#2: Lotte Kopecky (cycling)  
#3: Sha'Carri Richardson (athletics)  
#4: Emma Finucane  
#5: Ragne Wiklund (speedskating)  
 
 
BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes with a disability
 
#1: Diede de Groot (tennis)  
#2: Tanguy de la Forest (archery)  
#3: Anna-Lena Forster (alpine skiing)  
#4: Jesper Pedersen (alpine skiing)  
#5: Stefano Raimondi (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST YOUTH ATHLETE
for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2005) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
#2: Mirra Andreeva (tennis)  
#3: Summer McIntosh (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST MEN'S TEAM
for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Men's teampursuit Denmark (track cycling)  
#2: Men's 4x100 relay USA (athletics)  
#3: Men's teamsprint Netherlands (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST WOMEN'S TEAM
for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Women's team Netherlands (field hockey)  
#2: Women's team France (handball)  
#3: Women's teamsprint Germany (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM
for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Broenink & Twellaar (rowing)  
#2: Tita & Banti (sailing)  
#3: Perusic & Schweiner (beach volleyball)  
 
 
 
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Xandra Velzeboer (shorttrack speedskating)  
#2: Evgeniia Chikunova (swimming)  
#3: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
 
 
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2023 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Simone Biles (gymnastics)  
#2: Ruta Meilutyte (swimming)  
#3: Estavana Polman (handbal)  
 
 
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1: Sifan Hassan  winning her first two marathons (in her first two participations)
#2: Jannik Sinner  wins the Davis Cup after winning against Djokovic
#3: Simone Biles  wins multiple gold medals at the World Gymnastics Championships
 

BEST MALE ATHLETE
for sportsmen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Mathieu van der Poel (cycling)  
#2: Leon Marchand (swimming)  
#3: Jordan Stolz (speedskating)  
#4: Carlos Alcaraz (tennis)  
#5: Oliver Zeidler (rowing)  
 
 
 
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
for sportswomen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Femke Bol (athletics)  
#2: Lotte Kopecky (cycling)  
#3: Sha'Carri Richardson (athletics)  
#4: Emma Finucane  
#5: Ragne Wiklund (speedskating)  
 
 
BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes with a disability
 
#1: Diede de Groot (tennis)  
#2: Tanguy de la Forest (archery)  
#3: Anna-Lena Forster (alpine skiing)  
#4: Jesper Pedersen (alpine skiing)  
#5: Stefano Raimondi (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST YOUTH ATHLETE
for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2005) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
#2: Mirra Andreeva (tennis)  
#3: Summer McIntosh (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST MEN'S TEAM
for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Men's teampursuit Denmark (track cycling)  
#2: Men's 4x100 relay USA (athletics)  
#3: Men's teamsprint Netherlands (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST WOMEN'S TEAM
for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Women's team Netherlands (field hockey)  
#2: Women's team France (handball)  
#3: Women's teamsprint Germany (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM
for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Broenink & Twellaar (rowing)  
#2: Tita & Banti (sailing)  
#3: Perusic & Schweiner (beach volleyball)  
 
 
 
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Xandra Velzeboer (shorttrack speedskating)  
#2: Evgeniia Chikunova (swimming)  
#3: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
 
 
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2023 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Simone Biles (gymnastics)  
#2: Ruta Meilutyte (swimming)  
#3: Estavana Polman (handbal)  
 
 
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1: Sifan Hassan  winning her first two marathons (in her first two participations)
#2: Jannik Sinner  wins the Davis Cup after winning against Djokovic
#3: Simone Biles  wins multiple gold medals at the World Gymnastics Championships
 

BEST MALE ATHLETE
for sportsmen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Mathieu van der Poel (cycling)  
#2: Leon Marchand (swimming)  
#3: Jordan Stolz (speedskating)  
#4: Carlos Alcaraz (tennis)  
#5: Oliver Zeidler (rowing)  
 
 
 
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
for sportswomen in Olympic sports
 
#1: Femke Bol (athletics)  
#2: Lotte Kopecky (cycling)  
#3: Sha'Carri Richardson (athletics)  
#4: Emma Finucane  
#5: Ragne Wiklund (speedskating)  
 
 
BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes with a disability
 
#1: Diede de Groot (tennis)  
#2: Tanguy de la Forest (archery)  
#3: Anna-Lena Forster (alpine skiing)  
#4: Jesper Pedersen (alpine skiing)  
#5: Stefano Raimondi (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST YOUTH ATHLETE
for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2005) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
#2: Mirra Andreeva (tennis)  
#3: Summer McIntosh (swimming)  
 
 
 
BEST MEN'S TEAM
for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Men's teampursuit Denmark (track cycling)  
#2: Men's 4x100 relay USA (athletics)  
#3: Men's teamsprint Netherlands (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST WOMEN'S TEAM
for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Women's team Netherlands (field hockey)  
#2: Women's team France (handball)  
#3: Women's teamsprint Germany (track cycling)  
 
 
 
BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM
for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Broenink & Twellaar (rowing)  
#2: Tita & Banti (sailing)  
#3: Perusic & Schweiner (beach volleyball)  
 
 
 
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Xandra Velzeboer (shorttrack speedskating)  
#2: Evgeniia Chikunova (swimming)  
#3: Joshua Tarling (cycling)  
 
 
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2023 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1: Simone Biles (gymnastics)  
#2: Ruta Meilutyte (swimming)  
#3: Estavana Polman (handbal)  
 
 
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1: Sifan Hassan  winning her first two marathons (in her first two participations)
#2: Jannik Sinner  wins the Davis Cup after winning against Djokovic
#3: Simone Biles  wins multiple gold medals at the World Gymnastics Championships
 

Wish I could've voted for six Dutch sport moments of the year
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1:  Femke Bol charging to 4x400m World Championship gold a few days after her fall in the mixed relay
#2:  Men's team sprint taking back their world title in a head-to-head race vs Australia
#3:  Sifan Hassan winning the London and Chicago marathons
#4:  Mathieu van der Poel winning the road cycling world championship even after a fall
#5:  Wout Pouls winning his first Tour de France stage
#6:  Karolien Florijn dominating every single sculls rowing race including the world championship

Couldn't think of six (non-Dutch) nominees for every category, but I just sent in my vote:
 
 
BEST MALE ATHLETE
for sportsmen in Olympic sports
 
#1:  Leon Marchand - Swimming
#2:  Noah Lyles - Athletics
#3:  Mathieu van der Poel - Cycling
#4:  Jonas Vingegard - Cycling
#5:  Kelvin Kiptum - Athletics
#6:  Daiki Hashimoto - Gymnastics
 
 
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
for sportswomen in Olympic sports
 
#1:  Sifan Hassan - Athletics
#2:  Faith Kipyegon - Athletics
#3:  Kaylee McKeown - Swimming
#4:  Mollie O'Callaghan - Swimming
#5:  Lotte Kopecky - Cycling
#6:  Janja Garnbret - Sport Climbing
 
 
BEST NON-OLYMPIC ATHLETE
for athletes in Non-Olympic sports and disciplines
 
#1:  Killian Jornet - Trail running
 
 
 
BEST YOUTH ATHLETE
for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2005) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Summer McIntosh - Swimming
#2:  Niels Laros - Athletics
#3:  Kaylia Neymour - Algeria
#4:
#5:
#6:
 
 
BEST MEN'S TEAM
for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Volleyball team
#2:  Team sprint - Track cycling
#3:  Handball team
#4: 
#5:
#6:
 
 
BEST WOMEN'S TEAM
for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Football team
#2:  Waterpolo team
#3:  Volleyball team
#4:  Handball team
#5:  Freestyle relay teams - Swimming
#6:
 
 
BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM
for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Duda/Ana Patricia - Beach Volleyball
#2:  Mixed relay team (Velzeboer/Schulting/Van 't Wout/De Laat) - Short track speed skating
#3:  Bodnar/Radis - Rowing
#4:  McCarthy/O'Donovan - Rowing
#5:  Perusic/Schweiner - Beach Volleyball
#6:
 
 
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Jordan Stolz - Speed skating
#2:  Puck Pieterse - Mountainbike
#3:  Qin Haiyang - Swimming
#4:  Letsile Tebogo - Athletics
#5:  Emma Finucane - Track cycling
#6:  Anna Hall - Athletics
 
 
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2023 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)
 
#1:  Simone Biles - Gymnastics
#2:  Ruta Meilutyte - Swimming
#3:  Laura Aarts - Waterpolo (retired goalkeeper came back to the team and helped them become world champions)
#4:  Katarina Johnson-Thompson - Athletics
#5:
#6:
 
 
SPORT MOMENT OF THE YEAR
for any sport moment from 2023
 
#1:  Femke Bol charging to 4x400m World Championship gold a few days after her fall in the mixed relay
#2:  Simone Biles winning four golds in her return to the Antwerpen gymnastics hall
#3:  Mollie O'Callaghan 200m freestyle world record
#4:  /  /   Team Jumbo-Visma winning all three Grand Tours with different riders
#5:
#6:

Winners highlighted in red above.
 
On top of that, Niels Laros (athletics) won the Young Talent Award. The 18-year old is a double European Champion under 20 (1.500m and 5.000m). At the World Championships in Budapest this year he finished 10th place.

I would say  instead of  .
Hopefully  will organize OQT2. I can't wait to cheer for our team from the stands.

I would say  instead of  .
Hopefully  will organize OQT2. I can't wait to cheer for our team from the stands.

OQT1 -       
OQT2 -       
OQT3 -       
 
OQT2 is the same poule as poule IV at this World Championship (only Ukraine and Brazil missing). 

OQT1 -       
OQT2 -       
OQT3 -       
 
OQT2 is the same poule as poule IV at this World Championship (only Ukraine and Brazil missing). 

OQT1 -       
OQT2 -       
OQT3 -       
 
OQT2 is the same poule as poule IV at this World Championship (only Ukraine and Brazil missing).