“Overjoyed” Dominic Thiem wins Austrian Sportsman of the Year award

“Overjoyed” Dominic Thiem wins Austrian Sportsman of the Year award
Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem has been enjoying a fantastic year on the court. He reached his career-best ranking of 3rd earlier in the year, and also won his first-ever Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.

Now, the Austrian has received yet more good news, being crowned as Austria’s Sportsman of the Year for his first time ever. After long years of wait, he won the title over the likes of notable athletes like David Alaba and Nikola Bilyk.

Award handed out in an audience-less ceremony

Dominic Thiem finally won the award after an agonizingly long period of near-misses

The award is also known as ‘Niki’, as a tribute to Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda. All members from Sports Media Austria (SMA), the Austrian sports journalists association, are allowed to vote for their pick of the winner.

FS Video

Thiem was happy for having received the award, and his words echoed his gratitude and satisfaction. He said, “I am overjoyed and would also like to congratulate the other top athletes. More than just one athlete deserves this award every year. I am happy to be in line with the really big ones now. The names on the list of winners are impressive. And to be there now is a great honor.”

https://twitter.com/DomiBucky/status/1326278606784520204

This award is special because the 27-year-old is coming fresh from having one of his best seasons on record. He got his career-best world ranking and career-first Grand Slam title in 2020. He also reached the final of the Australian Open; a close final match against Novak Djokovic didn’t go his way.

Thiem now becomes the third male tennis player to take the award, after Thomas Muster who took it on two occasions and Jurgen Melzer.

Dominic Thiem won by highest margin in almost two decades

Thiem won his first-ever US Open title this year, defeating Alexander Zverev in a thrilling final

The tennis star had missed out on the award on five previous occasions, finishing second thrice and third twice. On all occasions, Marcel Hirscher, the legendary alpine ski racer, was ultimately crowned the winner.

However, this year, Thiem was the overwhelming favorite to win the award; the vote margin was evident of the fact. Having a whopping 1183 points in the voting, he didn’t face much stiff competition. The second-placed athlete, footballer David Alaba, only received a paltry 447 points in comparison. Alaba is a two-time winner of the award himself, receiving it in back-to-back years (2013 and 2014).

With a points differential of 736, Thiem’s victory was the highest margin of victory in over 18 years. In 2002, Stephan Eberharter defeated fellow ski racer, Fritz Strobl, with an unsurpassable points differential of 1140.

Thiem will now compete at the season-ending ATP event, the Nitto ATP Finals in London, looking to win the title.

Also read: Dominic Thiem gives injury update ahead of Nitto ATP finals