2016 Best Sportsmen and Sportswomen Award Finalists

Men"s Category:

WINNER with 45 points: Mykola NOSENKO (Athletics)
Born 16.01.1990, Mykola Nosenko of Ukraine is a 3-time champion (100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay) during 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.


FINALIST with 42 points: Maksim KULIKOV (Athletics)
Born 30.05.1984, Russian Maksim Kulikov earned several medals from the following championships: the Russian Deaf Athletics Championships, a silver medal (Long Jump) and a bronze medal (110m Hurdles) ; 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria: two (2) gold medals (110m Hurdles and Long Jump) ; 2016 European Deaf Indoor Athletics Championships in Torun, Poland: three (3) gold medals (60m Hurdles, Long Jump, and 4x400m Relay).


FINALIST with 27 points: Alexandre FERNANDES (Judo)
Born 24.03.1989, Alexandre Fernandes of Brazil earned two (2) medals during the 2016 World Deaf Martial Arts Championships in Turkey: - 90kg (gold) and OPEN (bronze)


FINALIST with 20 points: Hossein DERIKVAND (Wrestling Freestyle)
Born 22.09.1986, Hossein Derikvand of I.R. Iran has participated in the 4th World Deaf Senior Freestyle Wrestling Championships held in Tehran, I.R. Iran from 05-09 May 2016 and he has won gold for 70kg Freestyle.


FINALIST with 18 points: Theodor THOR (Athletics)
Born 07.10.1993, Theodor Thor of Sweden won gold in Javelin (62.09m) at the 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Theodor has also competed and placed 6th in a hearing competition, throwing Javelin 69.80m at the Swedish Championships in Sollentuna, Sweden.
Theodor"s best results this year was 72.46 m at Gurkspelen in Vasteras, Sweden on 31 July 2016. He got a personal best record by three (3) meters which was only a meter from the World Record of the Deaf. In 2016 Theodor was the 4th best javelin thrower on the Sweden"s list of top elites in Javelin.


FINALIST with 18 points: Werner LACKERBAUER (Shooting)
Born 20.01.1965, Werner Lackerbauer of Germany earned medals in 25m Center Fire Pistol Men: World Champion at the 1st World Deaf Shooting Championships in Kazan, Russia and Bavarian Champion (air pistol, standard pistol) in 2016.


FINALIST with 5 points: Camille BRASSE (Judo)
Born 04.06.1983, French Camille Brasse earned a couple medals during the 2016 World Deaf Martial Arts Championships in Samsun, Turkey: a gold medal in 73kg category and a bronze medal in OPEN category


FINALIST with 5 points: Senik SEROBYAN (Wrestling)
Born 15.08.1996, Armenian Senik Serobyan earned a gold medal in the 50kg category during the 2nd World Deaf Cadet and Junior Wrestling Championship, 2016 in Iran.

Women"s Category:

WINNER with 48 points: Nele ALDER-BAERENS (Athletics)
Born 01.04.1978, Nele Alder-Baerens of Germany earned several medals in the following long distance running events:
- German Champion 2016 with 03:20:33 at the German Championship (50km) in Berlin (GER) on 05 March 2016
- German Champion with a new German Record 2016 with 82,998 km at the Sri Chinmoy 6h-Run + German Championship 2016 in Nuremberg (GER) on 02 April 2016
- World Champion with a new World Record of 02:59:03 at the World Deaf Championship in Stara Zagora (BUL) on 26 July 2016;
- German Champion with 07:29:04 at the German Championship (100km) in Leipzig (GER) on 20 August 2016.


FINALIST with 44 points: Olga YAKUBOVSKAYA (Athletics)
Born 06.08.1981, Russian Olga Yakubovskaya earned top places in the following competitions:
- Russian Deaf Athletics Championships: one (1) gold medal in 10000m
- 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria: two (2) gold medals in 5000m and 10000m

FINALIST with 19 points: Yuliya SHAPOVAL (Athletics)
Born 28.04.1988, Yuliya Shapoval of Ukraine earned several medals in the following events during the 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria:
- 100m Hurdles – 1st place
- Relay 4x100m – 2nd place
- Relay 4x400m – 3rd place


FINALIST with 18 points: Maryam ABDIFARD DAVIL (Athletics)
Born 28.04.1997, Iran"s Maryam Abdifard Davil participated in the National Athletics Championships held in Ardebil, I.R. Iran from 25 to 27 April 2016. She earned gold medals in the following two (2) events:
- 200m Gold (31.54)
- 400m Gold (01.09.89)


FINALIST with 16 points: Trude RAAD (Athletics)
Born 27.04.1990, Norway"s Trude Raad demonstrated her performance as an elite athlete with the following accomplishments:
- World Champion in Hammer Throw during the 2016 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
- A bronze in the National Championship (for hearing) in Norway


FINALIST with 14 points: Emily CRESSY (Football)
Born 30.08.1989, Emily Cressy of the USA was the best player and scorer in the 2016 World Deaf Football Championships in Paestum, Italy.


FINALIST with 12 points: Joana SANTOS (Judo)
Born 11.02.1990, Joana Santos of Portugal has earned several medals during the 2016 World Deaf Martial Arts Championships in Samsun, Turkey:
- First place in 33kg category
- First place in Open category
- Third place in Kata


FINALIST with 9 points: Natalia SILVA (Volleyball)
Born 11.12.1984, Natalia Silva of Brazil was the top athlete during the 2016 PANAMDES Deaf Volleyball Qualification in the USA. She was awarded:
- Silver medal
- Trophy Best Blocker
- Trophy Best Scorer