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L'Équipe Champion of Champions Winners
The French newspaper L'Équipe (a nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports) has presented the Champion of Champions Award (‘Champion des Champions monde de l’année) to the international sportsman of the year, since 1980. In 2012, they introduced a separate male and female award. Prior to that, the only female to win the award was track and field athlete Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.
Male Champion of Champions Winners List
| Year |
Winner |
nationality |
Sport |
| 2023 |
Novak Djokovic |
Serbia |
|
| 2022 |
Lionel Messi |
Argentina |
Football |
| 2021 |
Novak Djokovic
|
Serbia |
Tennis |
| 2020 |
Lewis Hamilton |
Great Britain |
Formula One |
| 2019 |
Rafael Nadal |
Spain |
Tennis |
| 2018 |
Marcel Hirscher |
Austria |
Alpine Skiing |
| 2017 |
Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer |
Spain/Switzerland |
Tennis |
| 2016 |
Usain Bolt |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2015 |
Usain Bolt |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2014 |
Renaud Lavillenie |
France |
Athletics |
| 2013 |
Rafael Nadal |
Spain |
Tennis |
| 2012 |
Usain Bolt |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2011 |
Lionel Messi |
Argentina |
Football (Soccer) |
| 2010 |
Rafael Nadal |
Spain |
Tennis |
| 2009 |
Usain Bolt |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2008 |
Usain Bolt |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2007 |
Roger Federer |
Switzerland |
Tennis |
| 2006 |
Roger Federer |
Switzerland |
Tennis |
| 2005 |
Roger Federer |
Switzerland |
Tennis |
| 2004 |
Hicham El Guerrouj |
Morocco |
Athletics |
| 2003 |
Michael Schumacher |
Germany |
Formula One |
| 2002 |
Michael Schumacher |
Germany |
Formula One |
| 2001 |
Michael Schumacher |
Germany |
Formula One |
| 2000 |
Tiger Woods |
USA |
Golf |
| 1999 |
Andre Agassi |
USA |
Tennis |
| 1998 |
Zinedine Zidane |
France |
Football (Soccer) |
| 1997 |
Sergey Bubka |
Ukraine |
Athletics |
| 1996 |
Michael Johnson |
USA |
Athletics |
| 1995 |
Jonathan Edwards |
UK |
Athletics |
| 1994 |
Romario |
Brazil |
Football (Soccer) |
| 1993 |
Noureddine Morceli |
Algeria |
Athletics |
| 1992 |
Michael Jordan |
USA |
Basketball |
| 1991 |
Carl Lewis |
USA |
Athletics |
| 1990 |
Ayrton Senna |
Brazil |
Formula One |
| 1989 |
Greg LeMond |
USA |
Cycling |
| 1988 |
Florence Griffith-Joyner |
USA |
Athletics |
| 1987 |
Ben Johnson * |
Canada |
Athletics |
| 1986 |
Diego Maradona |
Argentina |
Football (Soccer) |
| 1985 |
Sergey Bubka |
USSR |
Athletics |
| 1984 |
Carl Lewis |
USA |
Athletics |
| 1983 |
Carl Lewis |
USA |
Athletics |
| 1982 |
Paolo Rossi |
Italy |
Football (Soccer) |
| 1981 |
Sebastian Coe |
UK |
Athletics |
| 1980 |
Eric Heiden |
USA |
Speed Skating |
Female Champion of Champions Winners List
| Year |
Winner |
nationality |
Sport |
| 2023 |
Simone Biles |
USA |
Gymnastics |
| 2022 |
Iga Świątek |
Poland |
Tennis |
| 2021 |
Elaine Thompson |
Jamaica |
Athletics |
| 2020 |
Marte Olsbu Roeiseland |
Norway |
Biathlon |
| 2019 |
Simone Biles |
United States |
Gymnastics |
| 2018 |
Simone Biles |
USA |
gymnastics |
| 2017 |
Katie Ledecky |
USA |
swimming |
| 2016 |
Simone Biles |
USA |
gymnastics |
| 2015 |
Serena Williams |
USA |
Tennis |
| 2014 |
Katie Ledecky |
USA |
Swimming |
| 2013 |
Serena Williams |
USA |
Tennis |
| 2012 |
Serena Williams |
USA |
Tennis |
Notes
- Ben Johnson, the winner from 1987, was later removed from the winner list due to doping.
- I have also come across information that the winner in the female category in 2010 was Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic, who picked up the award ahead of skier Lindsey Vonn and tennis player Kim Clijsters. Not so sure about that.
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