Iceland’s Gísladóttir named Women’s Leadership Award winner

Gí­sladóttir, an Assistant Professor at Reykjavik University who is also a club coach, was selected by an international jury to represent 24 national winners at a ceremony during the European Athletics Awards Night, presented by Mondo. She will receive her award from European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz on behalf of all the other laureates, who in turn will be given their awards at national ceremonies.

The awards were created on the recommendation of the European Athletics Development Committee to raise awareness of the issues related to women and leadership in athletics.  The 24 winners were chosen by their national federations.

'I'm surprised and happy to receive this honour,' said Gí­sladóttir. 'I am thankful for what is for sure one of the biggest recognitions I have received in my career. I hope this award will encourage other women to work for athletics and to give their valuable experience back to the sport.'

 'I extend my heartiest congratulations to Thórdí­s and to all the national winners,' said Wirz. 'Despite the difficulties women leaders face in most cultures, each one of them has made an important contribution and provided a valuable service to our sport.'

'We believe that involving our federations in recognising some of the many women who demonstrate outstanding leadership, whatever their position or level in the sport, will help to change attitudes, breakdown barriers and create more opportunities for women to help our sport grow. In the end, athletics will be the real winner.'

Gí­sladóttir, 48, has long been known as one of the leading lights in Icelandic athletics and her career has featured many roles at the local, national and international levels.  She has been a top high jumper, a coach, a special programme leader, a teacher at all levels from nursery school to university, a researcher in sport related issues and a member of various committees within the sports movement.

The complete list of national winners is as follows:

Satenik Ghazaryan - Armenia
Sonja Spendelhofer - Austria
Tatsiana Ledouskaja - Belarus
Dominique Gavage - Belgium
Liliyana Videva - Bulgaria
Dana Zatopkova - Czech Republic
Susanne Hedeager - Denmark
Sirje Lippe - Estonia
Eila Kelo - Finland
Odile Diagana - France
Steffi Nerius - Germany
Maria Zarokanellou-Sotirakopoulou - Greece
Ildikó Dornbach - Hungary
Thórdí­s Lilja Gí­sladóttir - Iceland
Maeve Kyle - Ireland
Zehava Shmueli - Israel
Zita Tindziuliene - Lithuania
Alexandra Marghieva - Moldova
Simone Martine Richardson - Netherlands
Unni Helland - Norway
Ann Axelsson - Sweden
Eveline Hedler - Switzerland
Nese Gundogan - Türkiye
Tetyana Klevakina - Ukraine