Fencers Named Athletes of the Year
Fencers took the honors as the year's best male and female athletes at the annual Stars of Sport gala.
In a survey weighted equally among journalists, the public and athletic associations, fencing champion Nikolai Novosjolov received top votes from all three segments. He was followed by wrestler Heiki Nabi and discus hurler Gerd Kanter.
The woman athlete of the year was fencer Julia Beljajeva, also receiving top votes from sports writers, public and sports associations. She beat out tennis player Kaia Kanepi and track star Anna Iljuštšenko.
The team of the year was also the women's epee fencing team, who won the European championship.
Wrestler Heiki Nabi's coach won top trainer honors, though, edging out the men's and women's fencing coaches Igor Tšikinjov and Natalja Kotova.
The sports moment of the year was also picked for the first time: the half hour where Nikolai Novosjolov and Julia Beljajeva both became world champions.