The current Sportswoman of the Year Diane Borg and Rachid Chouhal, the two athletes whose performances throughout the athletics season were so consistent and praiseworthy, have been voted unanimously by Athletics Malta as its choice for the “Athlete of the Year” Awards.

Still classified as an ‘Under 23’ athlete, Diane capped the season by producing a seasonal best performance in the 100m at the highest of stages, the London2012 Olympics, after earlier in the season she managed to bring down once again her National Record in the 200m when she stopped the clock on 24.15 seconds.

Coming on the heels of the European Championships in Helsinki, at which both athletes carried with pride Malta’s flag, Rachid’s performance at the Olympics rewarded this athlete who, at an age when most active athletes concentrate on the over 35 years of age ‘Masters’ category, provides ample evidence that consistency, dedication and the proper preparation can bring forth results to outshine any other challenger.

Indeed, his performances this year not only mirror these qualities but are also a shining light and example for the aspirations of younger generations.

Meantime, choosing appropriate winners in the other categories did not prove to be an easy task, the contenders for the awards fitting the criteria so close that Athletics Malta found it really hard to accept that the exploits of certain valiant athletes had to go unrewarded.

The full Roll of Honours list, by category, listing female athletes first, reads as follows: Senior and Athletes of the Year, Diane Borg and Rachid Chouhal; Juniors, Ylenia Lapira and Ian Paul Grech; Intermediates, Ylenia Pace and Thomas Farrugia; Youths, Robyn Zammit and Eric Borg Saywell and, for the Cadets category, Nicole Attard Glivau and Luke Scicluna.