The LEN Magazine, the official publication of the European Swimming Federation (LEN) has elected the Best athletes of the Year

In Open Water Swimming the LEN Award trophy went to the two champions of this discipline in Beijing: the Dutch Maarten van der Weijden who recovered from a deadly illness a few years ago, and Larisa Ilchenko, top performer of the Russians, unsurpassable for years.

Men
1. Maarten van der Weijden (Netherlands) 86%,
2. Thomas Lurz (Germany) 10%,
3. David Davies (Great Britain) 4%

Maarten van der Weijden in 2008: Olympic Champion (10km), World Champion (25km), World Ch. bronze (5km)

Women
1. Larisa Ilchenko (Russia) 90%,
2. Anne-Keri Payne (Great Britain) 8%,
3. Cassandra Patten (Great Britain) 2%

Larisa Ilchenko in 2008: Olympic Champion (10km), World Champion (5km, 10km), European Champion (10km)