Russia’s world champion 800 meter runner Maria Savinova has been named European woman-athlete of the year. This information came from the official site of the European Association of Athletics.

      This year Russian sportswomen has taken the first four places in the list of the best athletes. A spear thrower Maria Abrakumova took the second place, a high jumper Anna Chicherina became the third and a heptathlon athlete Tatyana Chernova took the fourth place. All these sportswomen had won gold medals at the World Championship in Daegu.

      Besides, Maria Savinova won the Diamond League final in Zurich and at the European team championships in Stockholm, where her victory helped Russia retain its place as the continent’s top nation. At the World Championship in Daegu she clocked a personal best time of 1:55.87 in the final, where she overtook and held off the reigning champion, South Africa’s Caster Semenya, in the final 50 meters.

      She is the fourth Russian woman to receive the honor after sprinter Irina Privalova in 1994, middle distance runner Svetlana Masterkova in 1996 and pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva in 2005 and 2008.

      Maria Savinova will be given her prize in Arona, Spain, on October 15. The men’s winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Sources: Lenta.ru RIA Novosti

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