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The Italian Olympic Marathon Gold Medal winner Stefano Baldini has
been announced as the top athlete in the world by the Association of
International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS).
Baldini received the top award in World road running, the AIMS/ASICS
Golden Shoe today (29/30 06 05) in Turin, Italy from TOROC (Organizing
Committee of the Winter Olympic Games of Torino 2006) Deputy President,
Evelina Christillin and at the presence of the FIDAL Regional President
(Italian Federation of Athletics), Maurizio Damilano.
Hiroaki Chosa, President of AIMS comments: ‘I am delighted on behalf
of the 204 member races of AIMS across over 80 countries to officially
announce Stefano Baldini as the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the
Year. Stefano is a fine athlete and it is fitting recognition of
his achievements that he should win this global award.’
Stefano Baldini comments: ‘I am greatly honoured to accept this
prestigious global award. I look forward to putting the ASICS
Golden Shoe beside my Olympic Gold Medal.’
The award stretches back into 2004 when the highlight of Stefano’s
year was undoubtedly his Olympic Gold Medal winning performance in the
Olympic Athens marathon 2:10:55.
The prize giving from the TOROC Deputy President has a special
meaning, because it extends the Olympic spirit of Athen 2004, well
interpreted by the Italian Champion, to the way of the Olympic Torch of
Torino 2006, in which Stefano Baldini will be the first torch-bearer.
AIMS Athlete Info Page: Stefano Baldini
Stefano Baldini
Place of birth Castelnovo di Sotto, near Reggio Emilia
Birthdate 25 May 1971
Height 1.76 m or 5 feet 9 inches
Weight 60 kg or 132 pounds
Sport Club: Corradini Excelsior Rubiera (CER)
Occupation: Athlete and employee of CER
Coach: Luciano Gigliotti (coach of Gelindo Bordin)
Marathon Career Highlights:
1st 1998 Budapest European Championships 2:12:01
DNF Sydney Olympic Marathon
3rd 2001 Edmonton World Championships 2:13:18
6th 2002 London Marathon 2:07:29 - still his PR
2nd 2003 London Marathon 2:07:56 -his 2nd fastest
3rd 2003 Paris World Championships 2:09:14
4th 2004 London Marathon 2:08:37
1st 2004 Athens Olympic Games 2:10:55
5th 2005 London Marathon 2:09:25
Other items of interest: has a brother Marco whose personal best in the
marathon is 2:16:32
Is married to Virna De Angeli, 2nd in the 1994 World junior
championships in 400 m hurdles
Information supplied by AIMS Statistics Director Dr David Martin
AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards Information
The AIMS/ASICS World athlete of the year awards were founded in 1992
and are decided each year by way of nominations made by the members of
the world body The Association of International Marathons & Road
Races (AIMS) member races. The membership totals some 200 races in over
80 countries covering every continent of the world.
A male and female winner are recognised each year for their outstanding
athletic achievement and as ambassadors for their sport and country.
The award is sponsored by sports company ASICS and each winner is awarded a golden ASICS shoe.
Winners To Date
Year of Award Male Winner Female Winner Comments
1992 Benson Masya (Kenya) -
Liz
McColgan (Scotland)
1993 Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) - No Award
1994 Vincent Rousseau (Belgium) - Uta Pippig (Germany)
1995 No
Award -
Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1996 Paul Tergat
(Kenya)
- Uta Pippig (Germany)
1997 Josia Thugwane (South Africa) - Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1998 Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil) - Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1999 Abel Anton
(Spain) -
Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
2000 Gezahenge Abera (Ethiopia) - Naoko Takahashi (Japan)
2001 Josephat Kiprono (Kenya) -Catherine Ndereba (Kenya)
2002 Khalid Kannouchi (USA) - Paula Radcliffe (England)
2003 Paul Tergat
(Kenya)
- Paula Radcliffe (England)
2004 Stefano Baldini
(Italy) -
Mizuki Noguchi (Japan)
Peter McLean
Director of Public RelationsAssociation of International Marathons & Road Races