Schippers and Kuchina crowned at Golden Tracks ceremony in Baku Azerbaijan
Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands was named European Female Athlete of the Year at the Golden Tracks awards ceremony in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday evening.
Russia's Mariya Kuchina claimed the European Female Athletic Rising Star award.
With the Golden Tracks being shown live on television and streamed live across the world, all athletes were present to collect their trophies in a glittering ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel in the iconic Flame Towers.
The 22-year-old Schippers surprised most specialists when she elected to compete in the 100m and 200m instead of the heptathlon in Zurich. But her decision paid off beautifully as the Dutch star won both events and left Switzerland with two brilliant gold medals.
The 21-year-old Kuchina, took high jump silver at the European Athletics Championships, won at the European Team Championships, shared gold at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and also won the Diamond Race.
Azerbaijan public television channel iTV produced a 45-minute programme that was made available live to European Broadcasting Union members, with the programme also being broadcast on national television later that evening.
The winning athletes were decided by counting votes from fans, media, European Athletics Member Federations as well as an expert European Athletics panel, with the results from each group of voters counting for one quarter of the athlete's final score.
More than 9,000 fans voted on the Golden Tracks Awards at www.facebook.com/EuropeanAthletics.