Sebastian Coe (pictured), the IAAF vice-president and London 2012 chairman, accepted the men's trophy on behalf of his fellow Briton, Mo Farah, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of training commitments at his base in Portland, Oregon.

Farah, 28, is the first male long-distance runner to win this poll since it started in 1993.

He claimed world gold and silver at the 5,000 and 10,000 metres respectively this year, as well as setting a European record over 10,000m.

"I am delighted to be selected as European Athlete of the Year for 2011. I would like to thank European Athletics and everyone who voted for me. It's a pity I could not be there tonight," said Farah, via a video message that was played during the Gala.

"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this stage of my career, in particular my coach, Alberto Salazar, my family and my management team.

"I will continue working hard and aim to stay on top in 2012 and beyond."

Russia's Mariya Savinova (pictured) was presented with the women's award, while Germany's David Storl and Britain's Jodie Williams received the Rising Star Awards during a ceremony that was the highlight of the three-day annual European Athletics Convention.

Savinova, who set a personal best in the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, to beat defending champion Caster Semenya to the 800m title, became the fourth Russian woman to win European Athlete of the Year after Irina Privalova, Svetlana Masterkova and Yelena Isinbayeva.

"It was a remarkable year on the track and this award has made it one of the most special years of my career," Savinova told the Gala.

"The other Russian athletes who have won this prestigious award have all gone on to win Olympic medals and I will be training very hard to achieve the same next year.

"This award is a great motivation for working extra hard."

Storl, who won the world shot put title with his last effort in Daegu, is the second German male athlete to be honoured as the Rising Star, after pole vaulter Raphael Holzdeppe, since the award began in 2007.

Before travelling to South Korea, the 21-year-old heavy-metal fan had fulfilled his role as favourite for the gold medal at the European Athletics U23 Championships, winning in the Czech city of Ostrava with a championship record of 20.45m.

"2011 has been a dream-like year and now this recognition makes it almost surreal," said Storl.

"Getting this award at a grand ceremony like this is a very amazing feeling – I'm truly enjoying this moment."

British sprint prodigy Jodie Williams (pictured) who won European junior gold at 100 and 200m in the Estonian capital Tallinn, said: "When my dad told me I had won this prestigious award, I just could not believe it.

"I still can't believe it.

"Thank you European Athletics, thank you everyone who voted for me.

"I am absolutely delighted about this.

"It's been an absolute honour.

"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me on the way – my mom, dad, my coach Mike [McFarlane], training mates and everyone else."

Two other presentations were made at the Gala.

Finland's Anni Kirvesniemi-Bosco represented the 30 national winners of the second European Athletics Women's Leadership Award and collected the award from European Athletics president Hansjorg Wirz.

All 30 winners will receive a diploma and a limited edition copy of a commissioned artwork produced by Marjolaine Perreten, a student at Lausanne's Ecole Romande d'Arte et de Communication.

Contact the writer of this article at [email protected]


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October 2011: Farah and Williams earn top European awards