The results of the Association of Sports Journalists’ poll for the Athlete of the Year 2021 were published on December 29, 2021. Ómar Ingi Magnússon, a handball player from Magdeburg in Germany, won the title this year. He is the tenth handball player to win the award since the beginning of the annual poll in 1956. Previously, Sigríður Sigurðardóttir (1964), Geir Hallsteinsson (1968), Hjalti Einarsson (1971), Alfreð Gíslason (1989), Geir Sveinsson (1997), Ólafur Stefánsson (2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009), Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson (2006) , Alexander Petersson (2010) and Aron Pálmarsson (2012) won the title.
It has been nine years since a handball player became the most successful in the poll. This is the13th time that a handball player has won.
A total of 45 athletes have been voted Athlete of the Year. Several of them more than once. Vilhjálmur Einarsson (5), Ólafur Stefánsson (4), Einar Vilhjálmsson (3), Hreinn Halldórsson (3), Örn Arnarson (3), Valbjörn Þorláksson (2), Guðmundur Gíslason (2), Ásgeir Sigurvinsson (2), Skúli Óskarsson (2), Jón Arnar Magnússon (2), Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen (2), Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson (2), Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (2).
In the 66 times that the Sports Journalists’ Association has voted, men have won 58 times and women eight times. Since 2015, however, women have won four times and men three times.
A total of 25 athletes received votes in the 2021 poll, 15 men and 10 women from ten different sports.
Athlete of the Year 2021 – points
1. Ómar Ingi Magnússon, handball 445
2. Kolbrún Þöll Þorradóttir, gymnastics 387
3. Kristín Þórhallsdóttir, powerlifting 194
4. Martin Hermannsson, basketball 150
5. Aron Pálmarsson, handball 143
6. Júlían JK Jóhannsson, powerlifting 122
7. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, football 114
8. Bjarki Már Elísson, handball 109
9. Rut Arnfjörð Jónsdóttir, handball 93
10. Kári Árnason, football 85
11. Elvar Már Friðriksson, basketball 48
12. Aldís Kara Bergsdóttir, skating 40
13. Hlynur Andrésson, freestyle 32
14. Ásta Kristinsdóttir, gymnastics 31
15. Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, football 26
16. Helgi Laxdal Aðalgeirsson, gymnastics 24
17. Haraldur Franklin Magnús, golf 22
18. Guðrún Brá Björgvinsdóttir, golf 13
19. Erna Sóley Gunnarsdóttir, freestyle 10
20. Már Gunnarsson, sports for the disabled 8
21. Helena Sverrisdóttir, football 7
22-23. Alfons Sampsted, Football 6
22-23. Baldvin Þór Magnússon, freestyle 6
24-25. Anton Sveinn McKee, channel 1
24-25. Róbert Ísak Jónsson, sports for the disabled 1
Team of the year
The Icelandic women’s team in group gymnastics was chosen as the team of the year 2021. This is the tenth time that the Sports Journalists’ Association has chosen the team of the year. The Icelandic women’s team in group gymnastics also won in 2012 when the prize was first awarded. Only the Icelandic men’s national football team has more often won the title of team of the year; four times (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017).
Team of the year – points
1. Iceland’s women’s national team in group gymnastics 125
2. Víkingur’s men’s team in football 63
3. KA / Þór’s women’s team in handball 56
4. Breiðablik’s women’s team in football 8
5. Þór Þorlákshafnar’s men’s basketball team 5
6. Valur’s men’s handball team 3
7 Hamar’s men’s volleyball team 1
Coach of the year
Þórir Hergeirsson, coach of the Norwegian women’s handball team, was elected coach of the year 2021. This is the tenth time that the Sports Journalists’ Association has chosen the team of the year. Þórir Hergeirsson, the coach of the Norwegian women’s national handball team, who had twice been second in the selection, now won the name change for the first time. Two have most often won the title, twice each. Alfreð Gíslason (2012 and 2013) and Heimir Hallgrímsson 2015 and 2017).
Coach of the year – points
1. Þórir Hergeirsson, coach of the Norwegian women’s handball team – 131
2. Vésteinn Hafsteinsson, throwing coach in freestyle – 68
3. Arnar B. Gunnlaugsson, coach of the men’s team Víkingur R. In football – 37
4. Andri Snær Stefánsson, coach of the women’s team KA / Þórs in handball – 13
5. Björn Björnsson and Hrefna Þorbjörg Hákonardóttir, head coaches of Iceland in group gymnastics – 11
6. Lárus Jónsson, coach of the men’s team Þór Þ. in basketball – 1
Source: AIPS
