European Union Of Sports Journalists Voted Russian Gymnast Svetlana Khorkina Woman Athlete Of 2001

Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina became Athlete of 2001 among women by the version of the European Union of Sports Journalists. This year 22-year-old Khorkina successfully competed in the 35th world championship in gymnastics held in the Belgian city of Gent last autumn. She emerged victorious in the all-around competition and won gold in two gymnastics events - on the uneven bars and in horse vaults. Khorkina was voted first ahead of Croatian Alpine skier Janica Kostelic (second place) and Ukrainian track-and-field athlete Zhanna Pintusevich (third place). German race driver Michael Schumacher who won the Formula-1 world championship was voted Athlete of the Year among men. It is the fourth highest title for him. Polish ski jumper Adam Malysz and Austrain Alpine skier Hermann Meyer ranked second and third respectively.