Croatia's high-jumper Blanka Vlasic and Swiss tennis player Roger Federer were named best European athletes in 2009 by the European Sports Press Union (UEPS).
The world's high-jump champion won the competition's 27th edition with 30points, eight more than swimmer Federica Pellegrini of Italy. Russianpole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was third.
This was Vlasic's first UEPS best female athlete title.
The best male athlete, tennis player Roger Federer, was followed by Formula1 driver Jenson Button of Great Britain and biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen ofNorway.
Since 2003, the UEPS award for best female and male athlete has been namedthe Frank Taylor Trophy after the former president of the International SportsPress Association (AIPS) and the UEPS.
