SVETLANA MASTERKOVA, the new matriarch of middle distance running, is to be presented with her award as European Woman Athlete of the Year in Dublin this morning. The men's trophy will be presented to the Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny.
Masterkova's choice to succeed Sonia O'Sullivan as the most successful European woman athlete is just reward for an outstanding season in which she won the Olympic 800 and 1,500 metres double in Atlanta.
Later the Russian, who was making a return to big time competition after a protracted absence, crowned a remarkable campaign with some outstanding performances on the Grand Prix circuit.
In the poll of more than 200 journalists and FAA members, Masterkova had just 17 votes to spare over French athlete Marie Jose Perec.
Zalezny, the Olympic javelin champion, likewise enjoyed an outstanding summer in which he confirmed his supremacy over his great German rival Raymond Hecht.
Steve Backley, the silver medalist behind Zalezny in Atlanta, failed to gain a place in the top ten in the European poll but there was better support for his British teammates, Jonathan Edwards (5th) and Roger Black (8th).
