The 2010 European Athletics Awards Night presented by MONDO in Belgrade was hailed by everyone who was there as the best ever, thanks, in no small part, to the efforts of the Serbian athletics federation.
An action packed year that included the European Athletics Championships and the World Indoor Championships among a host of other championships produced a number of contenders for the coveted awards.
After thousands of votes were cast, European high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia and French sprint sensation and winner of triple gold medals - 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay - at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona Christophe Lemaitre emerged as Europe's finest athletes of the year.
The great honour of being named the winners of the European Athletics Rising Star Awards fell to French triple jump star Teddy Tamgho and Croatia's discus heroine Sandra Perkovic. These awards recognised their spectacular performances throughout 2010.
All the winners were presented with their awards by European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz at a special European Athletics Awards Night presented by MONDO, organised during the European Athletics Convention in Belgrade, Serbia.
French star Lemaitre was unable to attend the Gala due to his commitment with his club, but his parents Christian and Marie-Therese were on hand to receive the award on his behalf.
European Athletics wishes to thank MONDO and looks forward to an exciting partnership in the coming years.