The popular and long-time coach of Karsten Warholm, Leif Olav Alnes, was crowned Coach of the Year for the third time at the Norwegian Sports Gala on Saturday (6).
After an injury-plagued 2022 season, Alnes guided Warholm to one of his best seasons to date in 2023. The Norwegian won gold in the 400m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul and won his third 400m hurdles title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Warholm broke the 47 second-barrier on five occasions throughout the summer and now holds five of the nine fastest times in history. And on the European stage, Warholm has ownership of the 22 fastest times in history.
Warholm, who was nominated for the Norwegian Sportsman of the Year award but lost out to footballer Erling Haaland, was fulsome in his praise for Alnes. “I wouldn't be where I am today without my coach,” he said.
World 1500m bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas won the Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year award.
Having previously focused on the longer distances, Nordas stepped down to the 1500m and improved his lifetime best from 3:36.23 down to 3:29.47 before capping his season with a bronze medal in a hyper-competitive 1500m final in Budapest.
Nordas also made the world 5000m final in Budapest.