The “Athletes of the Year” were chosen in Baden-Baden on Sunday (December 15, 2024). Olympic rowing champion Oliver Zeidler won in the men’s category, gymnast Darja Varfolomeev triumphed in the women’s category, and the 3×3 basketball players prevailed in the team category.
It was a close race for the women. Gymnast Darja Varfolomeev (Schmiden) received 1,888 votes and won just ahead of shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye (Mannheim, 1,809). Both won the gold medal in Paris, as did third-place dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Aubenhausen, 1,274). Varfolomeev made history in Paris and won the first ever German gymnastics gold in the all-around competition – and he was only 17 years old at the time. Now, at 18 years old, she is Germany’s “Sportswoman of the Year” 2024.
“It’s unbelievable. I didn’t expect first place. This is the highlight of an incredible year,” said Varfolomeev at the award ceremony, where she thanked her coach for taking the stress away from her.
3×3-Basketball players clearly prevailed
After sensationally winning the Olympic gold medal, the German 3×3 basketball players can look forward to being named “Team of the Year”. Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Marie Reichert (all Hannover) and Elisa Mevius (Rendsburg) received 2,872 votes and clearly won ahead of the footballers from Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1,712). Leverkusen had won the national double, consisting of the German championship and winning the DFB Cup.
The German women’s 3X3 basketball team won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Sonja Greinacher: “It still is indescribable”
“People have looked up to Olympic champions all their lives and the fact that we now belong to this elite small group is still indescribable and makes us all very emotional,” said Greinacher, visibly moved after the honor.
Handball players come in third place
The German men’s national handball team came third (1,196), who played a great Olympic tournament and had an epic duel with hosts France in the quarterfinals (35:34 after extra time). The DHB selection only had no chance in the final against Denmark, so in the end they achieved a strong second place and the silver medal.
Oliver Zeidler wins by a narrow margin ahead of Lukas Märtens
Among the men, two “Heroes of Paris” also finished at the top. Single rower Oliver Zeidler from Frankfurt, who made his Tokyo disaster forgotten in France, narrowly won with 1,694 votes ahead of Olympic swimming champion Lukas Märtens (Magdeburg, 1,647) and triathlete Patrick Lange (Darmstadt, 1,439), who retired in October Hawaii had secured the Ironman World Championship title. Zeidler, who was a disappointed favorite at the 2021 Olympics and remained without a medal, crowned his career with the triumph in Paris. He was the first German winner in single rowing since Thomas Lange’s success in 1992.
In the men’s category, Olympic rowing champion Oliver Zeidler won the 2024 “Sportsman of the Year” election.
“You feel a ton lighter”
“It was a race for eternity,” said 28-year-old Zeidler, commenting on his gold medal at the Stade Nautique. After being named “Sportsman of the Year,” he said looking back at Paris 2024: “You feel a ton lighter when you have fulfilled your lifelong dream!”
The evening was marked by a cherished tradition: For the 78th time, the “Athletes of the Year” were chosen at a gala in Baden-Baden. In the festively decorated Bénazet Hall of the Kurhaus, memories of the glamorous moments of many sports highlights were brought back on the third Advent – especially at the Olympic Games.
A lot of sports celebrities in Baden-Baden
Numerous active and former athletes honored themselves in Baden-Baden. Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber, gymnastics hero Fabian Hambüchen and track cycling queen Kristina Vogel attended the gala in the Kurhaus, as did the current generation including 100-meter sprinter Gina Brückenkemper, soccer world champion Matthias Ginter and swimming star Florian Wellbrock. Veteran greats such as handball coach Heiner Brand and horizontal bar gymnast Eberhard Gienger were also among the almost 700 invited guests.
Around 3,000 members of the “Association of German Sports Journalists” were eligible to vote in the run-up to the election. The list of suggestions was compiled by the athletes of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS).
Broadcast on Sunday, December 15, 2024, 7:45 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
