Aleksander Barkov has been selected as the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first ice hockey player to do so.
In June last year, Barkov made history as the first Finnish captain to win the Stanley Cup after his Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a winner-take-all game seven.
The award was presented by Finnish President Alexander Stubb who posted photos from the awards gala on Instagram.
Barkov was unable to attend the gala in person, but his acceptance speech was telecasted in from Florida.
"This is a really big honour. Great athletes have been selected in the past. I'm really impressed, and I didn't expect to wake up to this kind of response this morning. Thank you very much. It wouldn't have happened without my teammates and the support I have received," Barkov said in his speech surrounded by other Finnish players from Florida.
At the awards gala in Helsinki, Barkov's first coach Timo Mäkinen accepted the award on his behalf.
"I am terribly satisfied, pleased, grateful and thankful for all the good things I have been able to do with Sasha [Barkov]. Above all, I am grateful that I was able to put him in those early years on this glorious path to becoming one of the best hockey players in the world," said Mäkinen.
In 2023, basketball player Lauri Markkanen was named Finland's Athlete of the Year.
