Speed skaters Kjeld Nuis and Suzanne Schulting have been named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the annual NOC*NSF gala event.

Nuis, who is 29, missed the 2010 and 2014 Olympics but made up for it this year by winning gold in both the 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres at the winter games in South Korea. ‘I am extremely proud. I have worked hard for this,’ Nuis said after his name was called.

Suzanne Schulting, 21, is the first Dutch short track skater to win a gold Olympic medal – she picked up the 1,000 metre title. Schulting thanked her parents during her speech. ‘I know I have been a right pain at times, but it all worked out well in the end,’ she said.

The title of paralympic athlete of the year went to snowboarder Bibian Mentel who won two gold metals at the Paralympics.