Janneke Kersten, chair of the committee organizing the Student Sports Gala, looks back on a pleasant evening. “The evening immediately started out swinging thanks to the band (jazz combo Jazzal, ed.). All the nominees were extremely enthusiastic and Wim Koch, director of the Student Sports Centre, addressed them with a nice speech. Everyone joined in when Footloose performed, and it was great to see how athletes from different associations mingled during the evening.” In total, about 1200 students had cast their vote, says Kersten.

Runner Marissa Damink, member of student athletic association Asterix, is visibly delighted with her title of best sportswoman of the year. Her accomplishments this year include a finish in first place in the 800 meters at the Dutch Indoor Championships, and she represented the Netherlands at the European Championship for national teams, also in the 800 meters. We recently published an extensive interview with her.

Jacco Pereboom, winner in the category sportsman of the year, is active at the Eindhoven Student Alpine Club and won this year's Dutch National Championship in the Dutch Adventure Race Series – a race that takes place over 24 to 32 hours and is known for being the toughest and longest race in the Netherlands.

The GNSK women's soccer team comprising members of ESVV Pusphaira and ESZVV Totelos took the title this year for Eindhoven at the Great Dutch Student Championship (GNSK), and was awarded for that last night with the title ‘best sports team.’

Outdoor sport association All Terrain beat out the seven other nominated teams in the race for the title of best sports association. The association excelled this year at building new obstacles and independently organizing all extra matters related to that. They also set up a large event, for which they managed to attract two hundred extra participants this year.

You’ll find a few impressions of the evening below. Photos | Bart van Overbeeke