Dutch Olympic swimming champions Pieter van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn were voted the European Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year by the European Sports Writers Union.

Van den Hoogenband won the mens catergory with a total of 45 points followed by Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic (athletics) with 38 votes and Steve Redgrave of Britain (rowing) with 29 points.

In the womens category De Bruijn won the vote with 40 points. Fellow countrywoman Leontien Zijlaard of the Netherlands (cycling) was second with 28 points. Heike Drechsler of Germany (athletics) was third with 24 points.