In Luxembourg, it is tradition to celebrate the athlete of the year first at the Sports Press Gala, followed by a second ceremony at a sponsor's premises, meaning Van der Weken was recognised twice for her achievements with the same trophy.
Recognition is vital for Van der Weken, one of the country's leading sports ambassadors. She says support from fans and applause at competitions, such as the Diamond League event in Brussels, where entire busloads of supporters travelled to cheer her on, provide significant motivation.
Prize money in athletics is also on the rise. At last week’s Ultimate event in Budapest, which serves as an unofficial world championship, athletes received some of the largest cash prizes in the sport to date, with winners taking home $150,000, although this still falls short of the sums seen in some other sporting disciplines.
This season, the CAPA Ettelbruck sprinter managed to defeat all of Europe's best at least once. However, the gap to the dominant American and Jamaican sprinters remains considerable.
With her recent successes and growing support, all signs point to an exciting year ahead for Van der Weken.
