After winning the overall World Cup
Biathlon ace Franziska Preuß is “Sportswoman of the Year”
Updated 12/21/2025 – 9:19 p.mReading time: 1 min.
In the spring she won the overall biathlon World Cup in an exciting decision. Now Franziska Preuß has been voted “Sportswoman of the Year”.
Biathlon world champion Franziska Preuß is Female Athlete of the Year 2025. The 31-year-old won four World Cup medals this year and secured the title in the sports journalists’ election ahead of her predecessor Darja Varfolomeev from rhythmic gymnastics.
“I can only say thank you. It’s really something very special for me,” said Preuss. “I’m very happy and I hope we have something to celebrate this winter,” continued Preuss.
In addition to World Cup gold in the pursuit, Preuß also won precious metal in the sprint and in two relays and also won the overall World Cup. At the gala in the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, she follows, among others, Magdalena Neuner (2007, 2011, 2012), Laura Dahlmeier (2017) and Denise Herrmann-Wick (2023), who had already secured the award as biathletes.
With 1,749 points, Preuß was just ahead of Varfolomeev (1,701), who prevailed in the 2024 Olympic year. The 19-year-old won five gold medals at this year’s World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Third place went to swimming world champion Anna Elendt, who was well behind with 880 points. Combiner Nathalie Armbruster (861) and luger Julia Taubitz (728) completed the top five.
Track and field athlete Leo Neugebauer had previously been named Germany’s athlete of the year. The 25-year-old decathlon world champion prevailed in the sports journalists’ election ahead of swimmer Florian Wellbrock and professional cyclist Florian Lipowitz.