Espoo Sports Gala

The Espoo Sports Gala rewards the previous year’s success stories and sports achievements annually. Representatives of Espoo sport clubs and sport influencers are invited to the Gala.

The Gala was first organised in 2020. In the following two years, the Sports Gala could not be organised due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Espoo athlete and team of the year were still selected by public vote.

The previous year’s success stories have been rewarded at the Espoo Sports Gala. Here are all the rewarded achievements:

The athlete of the year: floorball player Justus Kainulainen
The team of the year: synchronised skating team Valley Bay Synchro
The role model of the year: artistic swimmer Iiris Nurmi
The young athlete of the year: skier, orienteer and runner Anni Jantunen
The coach of the year: basketball coach Aapo Heinonen
The sport club of the year: Espoon Jäätaiturit
The sport action of the year: Kiekko-Espoo’s ascent in the Finnish ice hockey league
The most intense sports moment of the year: the F-liiga semifinal thriller between top floorball clubs Esport Oilers and Westend Indians
The work community of the year: facility reservation unit for sports services
The collaborative action of the year: Leiki ja liiku activities
Espoo Hall of Fame #3: javelin thrower Tiina Lillak

Read more about the awarded.

The winners of the athlete, team and role model of the year awards were selected as usual by public vote. The other prizes and awards were handed out by the Mayor of Espoo, the Sports Director and the Sports and Exercise Committee.

Life’s work award: Mayor Jukka Mäkelä
The athlete of the year: kick boxer Tatu Maunu
The team of the year: Funky Cheer Team Espoo - FDE Juniors
The role model of the year: squash player Emilia Soini
The young athlete of the year: rhythmic gymnast Emmi Piiroinen
The coach of the year: orienteering coach Jari Ikäheimonen
The sport club of the year: Espoon Hiihtoseura
The sport action of the year: European Figure Skating Championships 2023
The most intense sports moment of the year: DCA Ensemble’s gold medal in World Championships
The work community of the year: employees of the Leppävaara Sports Park
The collaborative action of the year: Urhea cooperation: Omnia, Leppävaaran lukio upper secondary school and Haukilahden lukio upper secondary school

The winners of the athlete, team and role model of the year 2022 were selected by public vote. The other prizes and awards were handed out by the Mayor of Espoo, the Sports Director and the Sports and Exercise Committee.

Espoo Hall of Fame: Marjo Matikainen-Kallström and Jere Lehtinen
The athlete of the year 2022: Jere Sallinen
The team of the year 2022: Kiekko-Espoo Naiset
The role model of the year 2022: Katariina Kurikko
The young athlete of the year 2022: Oskari Laurila
The sport action of the year 2022: Carbon neutral Tapiolan Honka
The sport club of the year 2022: Westend Indians
The coach of the year 2022: Sami Haapanen
The most athletic school of the year 2022: Soukan koulu
The work community of the year (sports and athletics) 2022: ski track team

The Sports Gala was not organised, but the athlete and team of the year 2021 were still selected by public vote.

The athlete of the year 2021: Oskar Kirmes
The team of the year 2021: OVO Team
The young athlete of the year 2021: Nelli Laitinen
The sport action of the year 2021: Ilmatar Areena

Despite the exceptional sports year 2020, Espoo athletes found success in different sports. Espoo athlete and team of the year 2020 were selected by public vote.

Espoo athlete of the year 2020: Joonas Kukkonen
Espoo team of the year 2020: Electstreme team

The winners of the three categories below were selected by public vote:

The athlete of the year 2019: Emil Soravuo
The team of the year 2019: OVO Team
The role model of the year 2019: Alex Komulainen

Espoo young athlete, coach, sport action and club 2019 were also awarded in the Sports Gala. The choices were made by the Sports and Exercise and Youth Committee. The Mayor and the Sports Director also gave prizes to others who had found success.