The winner and his record
Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis was named the laureate of the 68th annual “Best Athlete in Europe” award organized by the Polish Press Agency (PAP). According to UNN, in the vote of 23 leading continental news agencies he collected 184 points — a result that reflects not only a victory in a single season but also confirmation of his status as an elite athlete after a new world record of 6.30 m.
"According to the vote of 23 leading continental news agencies, the two‑time Olympic champion scored 184 points."
— PAP / UNN
Ukraine in the ranking
Ukraine is represented in the list of the best by boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who scored 16 points and shared the 14th–15th positions with Norwegian biathlete Johannes Bø. In total, the ranking mentions 62 athletes from 22 sports; among women the best result belongs to Dutch runner Femke Bol (76 points), who finished fourth.
Top 10 European athletes (according to PAP)
1. Armand Duplantis (Sweden, athletics) — 184 points
2. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain, tennis) — 143 points
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, cycling) — 134 points
4. Femke Bol (Netherlands, athletics) — 76 points
5. Ousmane Dembélé (France, football) — 70 points
6. Lando Norris (Great Britain, Formula 1) — 68 points
7. Jannik Sinner (Italy, tennis) — 57 points
8. Aryna Sabalenka (tennis) — 56 points
9. Marco Odermatt (Switzerland, alpine skiing) — 45 points
10. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway, cross‑country skiing) — 29 points
Why it matters (analytical context)
The PAP award is more than a season summary; it is an indicator of athletes' recognition and media weight in Europe. For Duplantis, the victory after the record cements his status as a leader in athletics. For Ukraine, Usyk’s presence in the top 15 has several practical dimensions:
• International recognition: even isolated mentions in continental rankings raise attention to national sport and create additional opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships.
• Moral effect: in times of challenge every international accolade works for the country’s image and supports the domestic audience.
• Signal to institutions: the results show where to invest — in training, infrastructure and support for athletes who can be the country’s “faces” on the international stage.
Conclusion
The PAP‑2025 ranking recorded both a spectacular record and Ukraine’s steady presence in continental sport. This is not just a table of points — it is an opportunity to turn media interest into long‑term investments in Ukrainian sport and to strengthen the international visibility of our athletes.
