Cyclist Cancellara voted sportsman of year
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Fabian Cancellara has been named Swiss sportsman of the year by the public.
Cancellara crossed the line just ahead of Roger Federer – a five-time winner of the award – and alpine skier Didier Cuche.
Television viewers on Saturday selected 21-year-old gymnast, Ariella Kaeslin, as sportswoman of the year for her fifth place finish at the Beijing Olympics.
Although she did not bring home a medal, her result in the vault was the best ever by a Swiss female gymnast at the Olympics.
Federer – not present at the ceremony in Basel – did not come away empty handed. He took the award for best team of the year together with Switzerland’s number two in tennis, Stanislas Wawrinka. They captured gold in the double’s competition in Beijing.
Teen skiing sensation Lara Gut was voted top “newcomer” of the year and 50-year-old Heinz Frei was named best disabled athlete for his two gold medals in cycling at the Beijing Paralympics.
It was the ninth time Frei has won the Swiss award.
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