In Poland: A Formula 1 pilot - followed by Gymnast Leszek Blanik!

Ten top Polish athletes were named best sportspeople of the year in the annual ranking organised jointly by Polish "Sports Review" daily and the state Polish television TVP.  It has been the 74th edition of this popularity rating.
2008 was the year of Robert Kubica, the only Pole in Formula 1 races and it came as no surprise that almost one hundred thirty thousand Poles voted him the best athlete of the year.
He was followed by Olympic gold medalist in male artistic gymnastics Leszek Blanik who received over one hundred twenty one thousand votes (!!) while the third in the ranking was gold medalist in shot put from Beijing, Tomasz Majewski.