The European Olympic Committees (EOC) today announced that nominations for the winter edition of the Piotr Nurowski Prize are now open.

Twelve years after it was first awarded to the Best Young European Athlete in 2011, 2023 marks the eighth time that winter sports have had their own award.

Slovenian ski jumper Nika Prevc won the Prize last year and was impressive again at the European Youth Olympic Festival Friuli (EYOF) Venezia Giulia 2023, winning three gold medals in Italy.

The Prize was created by the EOC in 2010 to remember Olympic great Piotr Nurowski, and through his example and his memory encourage young athletes to pursue a career in top class sport, as well as inspire future generations to adopt a healthy lifestyle based on Olympic values and principles.

As well as taking into account an athletes’ performance during the Winter EYOF and other championships, their conduct during events and their grasping of Olympic culture, values and friendship are just as important.

Each European NOC is invited to nominate one athlete from their country for the award by 20 March, as long as they meet the set criteria: they must compete in a winter sport, be a citizen of a European country and to have been born before 1 January 2005.

Once the nominations are submitted, the EOC will circulate the list of nominees to all European NOCs, who will be asked to shortlist their top three.

An expert panel will also select two contenders with the final shortlist of five athletes revealed 20 days before the EOC Seminar on 12 May in Paris, where the Piotr Nurowski Best Young European Winter Athlete winner will be unveiled at the Official Gala dinner.

EOC President Spyros Capralos said: “Each year, the Piotr Nurowski Prize offers us the chance to recognise the best young athletes from across Europe in both winter and summer sports. I am looking forward to seeing the nominees for the winter award this time around after the Winter EYOF in Friuli Venezia Giulia last month, when we saw plenty of future stars in action. I know the standard of nominations will be incredibly high.”