Manuel dominated the Athlete of the Year 2026 poll. The indoor world champion is the youngest winner in Czech history.

Lurdes Gloria Manuel won the 2026 Athlete of the Year award, becoming the youngest winner in Czech history. She is the first woman to win since 2019. Manuel, a world indoor champion in the 400 meters, achieved a personal best of 49.37 seconds and finished fourth at the European Championships. This marks her third appearance in the top ten of the Athlete of the Year poll. The second place went to hammer thrower Volodymyr Myslyvchuk, followed by pole vaulter Amálie Švábíková. Coach Dušan Král was named Coach of the Year, while 16-year-old Linda Botková was recognized as the Discovery of the Year for breaking European records in her category.