SPORTS PERSONALITIES 2021

On the 21st of February 2022 the University of Antwerp hosts the Panathlon Antwerp & PCU Antwerp Sports Personalities. Following the annual tradition, the Honorary Rector Francis Van Loon Award will be presented to the best student elite student of the year 2021. In addition, the laureate of the Panathlon Antwerp Sports Personality 2021 will be honoured. This year there are no less than three winners: Felix Denayer, Arthur De Sloover and Alexander Hendrickx.

WHO WILL BE AWARDED ‘ELITE ATHLETE OF THE YEARS 2021’?

The PCU Antwerp Sports Personality 2021 award, also known as the Honorary Rector Francis baron Van Loon Award, will be handed out to one of these three nominated elite athletes who study at the University of Antwerp:

Mathijn Bogaert – 20 years old

Bachelor Applied Engineering
Cycling – BMX
Highlights 2021:

  • World Cup Men’s BMX U23 Sakarya 3: 3rd place
  • World Cup Men’s BMX U23 Sakarya 4: 3rd place
  • Belgian Championship Men’s BMX: 3rd place
  • European Championship Men’s BMX U23: 14th place (best Belgian)

Other highlight:

  • European Cup Men’s BMX Peer 1: 4th place (2019)
  • European Cup Men’s BMX Juniors Zolder 1: 2nd place (2018)
  • European Cup Men’s BMX Juniors Verona 1 & 2: 4th place (2018)

Michelle Struijk – 23 years old

Master Medicine
Hockey
Highlights 2021:

  • Co-captain of the Red Panters (2021 -…)
  • European Championship Hockey: 3rd place
  • Hockey Pro League: 7th place (2020-2021)

Other highlight:

  • Belgian Champion with Royal Antwerp Hockey Club (2019)
  • Rising Star 2018
  • European Championship Hockey: 2nd place (2017)

Jef Vandorpe – 20 years old

Bachelor Law
Tennis – wheelchair tennis
Highlights 2021:

  • Best ITF wheelchair world ranking: 11th place
  • Paralympic Games Tokyo single: 3rd round
  • Paralympic Games Tokyo Doubles: quarter finales

Other highlight:

  • Belgian Open: 1st place (2019)
  • Number 1 on the world raking juniors (2018)
  • World Champion juniors (2018)

All students of the University of Antwerp can vote for their favorite and help decide which elite athlete student wins the PCU Antwerp Sports Personality 2021 award. Cast your vote on this page. You can vote until 14 February.

PANATHLON ANTWERP SPORTS PERSONALITY 2021

The second award, The Panathlon Antwerp Sports Personality 2021 award, goes to not one but three laureates. The three laureates are UAntwerp members of the national men’s hockey team “Red Lions”: alumni Félix Denayer and Alexander Hendrickx and student Arthur De Sloover are being honoured for their inspiring role in the Antwerp sports landscape. After winning the European and World title, they became Olympic Champions in 2021. They combine(d) their careers in the national team with a club career at professional level and successful Master studies at the University of Antwerp. The Red Lions were voted “Sports Team of the Year” at the end of the 2021 during the Sports Gala.