Twenty-two-year-old handball player Aron Pálmarsson was named Iceland’s Sportsperson of 2012 by the Association of Sports Journalists at a ceremony on Saturday, also held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland (ÍSÍ).

Aron Pálmarsson accepts the Sportsperson of the Year trophy.
Aron received 425 points of 460. He is the ninth handball player to earn the title in the 57 years that the voting has taken place. Some of the players have been Sportspersons of the Year more than once; the total number of titles dedicated to handballers is 12.

Aron played a key part in his team Kiel becoming German Champions without losing a game. They also won the German Cup and European Championship.

Aron also excelled with the Icelandic national team last year, not least at the London Olympics where Iceland placed fifth and Aron was included in the all-star team, mbl.is reports.

Ásdís Hjálmarsdóttir, who holds the Icelandic record in women’s javelin throwing and placed 11th at the London Olympics, came second in the running for Sportsperson of 2012 with 279 points and swimmer Jón Margeir Sverrisson, gold medalist at the London Paralympics, third with 267 points.

Vala, Vilhjálmur and Bjarni, Olympic medalists who have entered ÍSÍ’s Hall of Fame. Photos courtesy of ÍSÍ.

For the first time, the Association of Sports Journalists also honored the Coach of the Year—Alfreð Gíslason earned the title for leading Aron’s team Kiel to victory—and Team of the Year, which went to Gerpla, the European Champions in Women’s Group Gymnastics for the second year running.

On the occasion of ÍSÍ’s centennial anniversary, more athletes were included in the association’s Hall of Fame. Since its establishment in January 2012, only Icelandic triple-jump silver medalist at the 1956 Olympics Vilhjálmur Einarsson had entered it.

Two other Olympic medalists have now joined him: Bjarni Friðriksdóttir who claimed the bronze in judo at the 1984 Olympics and Vala Flosadóttir who won the bronze in pole vault at the 2000 Olympics.

Click here to read about Heiðar Helguson, the 2011 Sportsperson of the Year.

ESA