Belgian National Sports Merit Award
The Belgian National Sports Merit Award is an annual award handed out to a Belgian sportsperson or -team for exceptional merit. Each individual can only win the award once during his or her career, making this trophy one of the most prestigious in Belgian sports. The trophy is awarded by a jury consisting of (former) sports champions (e.g. Paul Van Himst and Ingrid Berghmans), influential sports people and sports journalists and is led by the mayor of Brussels.
The trophy was established in 1928 by Alban Collignon, as a tribute to the founder of the Royal Belgian Aero-club, Fernand Jacobs. Therefore the trophy was in the first four years known as the Fernand Jacobs Award.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Daniel Van Buyten | Football |
| 2013 | Frederik Van Lierde | Triathlon |
| 2012 | Evi Van Acker | Sailing |
| 2011 | Kevin Borlée | Athletics |
| 2010 | Philippe Le Jeune | Equestrianism |
| 2009 | Philippe Gilbert | Cycling |
| 2008 | not awarded | |
| 2007 | Belgian Women's 4×100 metres relay team | Athletics |
| 2006 | Kim Gevaert and Tia Hellebaut | Athletics |
| 2005 | Tom Boonen | Cycling |
| 2004 | Axel Merckx | Cycling |
| 2003 | Stefan Everts | Motorcross |
| 2002 | Marc Wilmots | Football |
| 2001 | Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin | Tennis |
| 2000 | Joël Smets | Motorcross |
| 1999 | Gella Vandecaveye | Judo |
| 1998 | Ulla Werbrouck | Judo |
| 1997 | Luc Van Lierde | Triathlon |
| 1996 | Johan Museeuw | Cycling |
| 1995 | Frédérik Deburghgraeve | Swimming |
| 1994 | Brigitte Becue | Swimming |
| 1993 | Vincent Rousseau | Athletics |
| 1992 | Annelies Bredael | Rowing |
| 1991 | Jean-Michel Saive | Table Tennis |
| 1990 | Jan Ceulemans | Football |
| 1989 | Michel Preud'homme | Football |
| 1988 | Eric Geboers | Motorcross |
| 1987 | Ingrid Lempereur | Swimming |
| 1986 | William Van Dijck | Athletics |
| 1985 | not awarded | |
| 1984 | André Malherbe | Motorcross |
| 1983 | Eddy Annys | Athletics |
| 1982 | Ingrid Berghmans | Judo |
| 1981 | Annie Lambrechts | Roller Skating |
| 1980 | Belgium national football team | Football |
| 1979 | Robert Van de Walle | Judo |
| 1978 | Anderlecht | Football |
| 1977 | Gaston Rahier | Motorcross |
| 1976 | Ivo Van Damme | Athletics |
| 1975 | Jean-Pierre Burny | Canoe-Kayak |
| 1974 | Paul Van Himst | Football |
| 1973 | Roger De Coster | Motorcross |
| 1972 | Karel Lismont | Athletics |
| 1971 | Miel Puttemans | Athletics |
| 1970 | Freddy Herbrand | Athletics |
| 1969 | Serge Reding | Weightlifting |
| 1968 | Jacky Ickx | Motorsports |
| 1967 | Ferdinand Bracke and Eddy Merckx | Cycling |
| 1966 | Raymond Ceulemans | Cue sports |
| 1965 | First jachtwing of the Belgian Air Component | Air sports |
| 1964 | Joël Robert | Motorcross |
| 1963 | Aureel Vandendriessche | Athletics |
| 1962 | Gaston Roelants | Athletics |
| 1961 | Rik Van Looy | Cycling |
| 1960 | Flory Van Donck | Golf |
| 1959 | Belgium men's national field hockey team | Field Hockey |
| 1958 | René Baeten | Motorcross |
| 1957 | Jacky Brichant and Philippe Washer | Tennis |
| 1956 | Gilberte Thirion | Motorsports |
| 1955 | Roger Moens | Athletics |
| 1954 | Adolf Verschueren | Cycling |
| 1953 | Crew of the Yacht Omoo (Mr. and Mrs. Van de Wielle and Fred Debels) | Yachting |
| 1952 | André Noyelle | Cycling |
| 1951 | Johny Claes and Jacques Ickx | Motorsports |
| 1950 | Briek Schotte | Cycling |
| 1949 | Feru Moulin | Swimming |
| 1948 | Etienne Gailly | Athletics |
| 1947 | Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet | Figure Skating |
| 1946 | Gaston Reiff | Athletics |
| 1945 | Flying personnel of the Belgian Royal Air Force-section | Air sports |
| 1944 | not awarded | |
| 1943 | Prince Albert de Ligne | General |
| 1942 | Pol Braekman | Athletics |
| 1941 | Jan Guilini | Swimming |
| 1940 | Fernande Caroen | Swimming |
| 1939 | Commandant Henry de Menten de Horne | Equestrianism |
| 1938 | Hubert Carton de Wiart | Motorsports |
| 1937 | Joseph Mostert | Athletics |
| 1936 | Ernest Demuyter | Hot air ballooning |
| 1935 | Count Arnold de Looz-Corswarem | Air sports |
| 1934 | Union Saint-Gilloise | Football |
| 1933 | Jef Scherens | Cycling |
| 1932 | not awarded | |
| 1931 | René Milhoux and Jules Tacheny | Motorsports |
| 1930 | Hyacinte Roosen | Wrestling |
| 1929 | Georges Ronsse | Cycling |
| 1928 | Louis Crooy and Victor Groenen | Air sports |