The Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Polish Robert Lewandowski and the Italian national football team, who triumphed in the European championships, are the winners of the "Champions of 2021" award organized by AIPS (Association International de la Presse Sportive).
529 journalists from 114 countries voted.
With 605 votes, Thompson-Herah, Olympic champion of the 100 and 200 in Tokyo, where she repeated the double success of Rio 2016, overtook the winner of the women's Ballon d'Or, Alexia Putellas (490 votes), and the Venezuelan triplist Yulimar Rojas (346 points).
Lewandowski confirmed last year's victory with 435 votes ahead of Max Verstappen, who collected 349 points, with Lionel Messi in third place with 314 points.
Marcell Jacobs finished in 12th place with 184 votes with Gianmarco Tamberi in 17th place (119 votes).
Among the teams, the national team coached by Roberto Mancini won a total of 767 points, crowning a year ennobled by the European title, with Bayern Munich second (503 votes).
Argentina, winner of the Copa America, finished in third place, with 459 points.
In the category that concerns the best services for the press, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo took first place with 1453 votes, followed by the European Football Championship (899) and the Tour de France (462), in third.