Estonian Athletes of the Year 2019 revealed

05.01.2020
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05.01.2020
Javelin thrower Magnus Kirt, freestyle-skier Kelly Sildaru, and rally team Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja clinched Estonian Athlete of the Year 2019 titles in their respective categories.
Pictured: Kelly Sildaru and Magnus Kirt with their golden Kristjan awards. Photo by: Raigo Pajula / Estonian Olympic Committee

Athletes of the Year were decided based on votes cast by sports journalists, the public, and sports associations, and revealed at the annual "Stars of the Sports Year" ("Spordiaasta Tähed") gala event organized by the Estonian Olympic Committee in front of an 1800-people audience and live national television broadcast. 

Estonian Athletes of the Year 2019 are:

Male Athlete of the Year - Magnus Kirt, athletics, javelin throw

Kirt won the World Championships silver medal, was the world leader 2019 and IAAF Diamond League Trophy winner, and set the new Estonian record 90.61.

Female Athlete of the Year - Kelly Sildaru, freestyle-skiing

At the beginning of 2019, Sildaru became the World Champion in halfpipe at the age of 16, and later the in the year at X-Games earned the gold medal in slopestyle, silver medal in halfpipe and bronze in Big Air. This was Sildaru's first Female Athlete of the Year award.

Team of the Year - Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, WRC rally

Tänak and his co-driver Järveoja became the first-ever Estonians to win the World Rally Championships. This was the duo's second consecutive year to take home the award.

Coach of the Year - Indrek Tustit and Marek Vister

Instructing javelin thrower Magnus Kirt.

Young Athlete of the Year - Kelly Sildaru, freestyle-skiing

In addition to Sildaru's aforementioned results, she also won two gold medals at World Junior Championships - in slopestyle and Big Air. This was Sildaru's fourth consecutive year to receive Young Athlete of the Year award.