Gymnast Nina Derwael awarded 2018 Flemish Sport Jewel
Nina Derwael has been awarded this year’s Flemish Sport Jewel prize. It has been a very successful year indeed for the 18-year-old gymnast from Sint-Truiden in Limburg Province. She became both European and World Champion on the uneven parallel bar in Glasgow and Qatar respectively.
The decision to award her the Flemish Sport Jewel was taken unanimously by the jury. Previously Nina Derwael won the Trophy for Sporting Achievement.
The Flemish Sport Jewel is awarded annually to a sportsman or sportswoman that has made an exceptional achievement over the past 12 months. It can awarded just once in a sportsman or sportswoman’s career.
The choice of Nina Derwael was an obvious one. She took gold in the uneven parallel bar and silver in the balance beam at the European Championships in Glasgow. Last month she became the first ever Belgian to take gold at a Gymnastics World Championships, winning the Uneven parallel bar competition in Qatar.