Moe Sbihi shortlisted for Sportsman of the Year at British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards
Moe Sbihi is nominated alongside Sir Mo Farah, Lutalo Muhammad and Maro Itoje for the Lycamobile BEDSAs Sportsman of the Year
Moe Sbihi at BRIC 2016 (Naomi Baker)
The success in 2016 of Moe Sbihi has been recognised by the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards, with the Olympic champion nominated for Sportsman of the Year.
Sbihi, who was born in Britain to a Moroccan father, sealed his rise to the top of British rowing with a gold medal in the men’s four in Rio de Janeiro, alongside Alex Gregory, George Nash and Constantine Louloudis.
The Molesey rower is a practising Muslim and manages his commitments to his faith, including fasting, around his intense training schedule. As well as his success on the water, Sbihi is recognised for his work with the British Rowing Start Programme, of which he is a graduate, and inspiring youngsters from diverse ethnic groups to start rowing.
He received an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours and is back in training with the elite team in the build up to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Sbihi finds himself in great company on the awards shortlist, with the British indoor record holder up against fellow Rio star Sir Mo Farah, who won two golds at the Games in August, Olympic silver medallist Lutalo Muhammad and England Rugby’s rising star Maro Itoje.
Commenting on being shortlisted for the award, Sbihi said: “I’m honoured and privileged to be among such sporting names. To be nominated alongside athletes that I look to as being the pinnacle of British sport is something that I would never have thought would happen to me. 2016 was an incredible year for me and I am proud to be part of such a successful year for British sport.”
The winner of Sportsman of the Year will be determined by a public vote. You can vote for Moe Sbihi by visiting BEDSA.co.uk/vote and clicking on ‘mobile version’.
Other sports men and women up for awards include Dame Jessica Ennis, Nicola Adams and Haseeb Hameed.
The winners will be announced at the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards, held at the London Hilton Park Lane Hotel on 18 March.
