Hosszu, Nadal named best European athletes of 2019

Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu, a three-time Olympic champion, became Europe's best female athlete of 2019, elected by the sports journalists of Europe, Hungarian news agency MTI reported on Wednesday.

"Hosszu won the title for the third time, winning both in 2016 and 2017. Italian skier Dorothea Wierer finished at the second place, while British world champion sprinter Dina Asher-Smith finished third," MTI announced.

In the men's category, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal was elected the best male athlete of 2019. Winning in both Roland Garros and the US Open in 2019, he obtained the title for the second time since 2008. He beat Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star of the Juventus football team, and Lewis Hamilton, the British Formula One World Champion, according to MTI.

Sports journalists from 43 countries participated in the 37th AIPS Europe vote. The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) is the professional body representing the international sports media, with more than 9,500 members worldwide.