Monoskier Anna-Lena Forster, athlete Léon Schäfer and the Nordic cross-country skiing relay team can claim the title of Para-Athlete of the Year. The DBS Young Talent Award goes to shot putter Yannis Fischer, while Ralf Rombach and Tom Kosmehl share the title of Coach of the Year.
They all received the most votes in their respective categories in the election in Düsseldorf. Verena Bentele was awarded the DBS Honorary Prize.
The rain of medals in the summer in particular ensured that 2023 was an exceptional year. From the beginning of July to mid-September alone, German para-athletes won a total of 33 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze medals at world and European championships, creating a remarkable record. At the beginning of the year, winter athletes had already achieved good results.
Beucher: Very special para sports summer
“A year before the Paralympic Games in Paris, we experienced a para-sports summer that was second to none. Given the abundance of titles and triumphs, it was a great challenge to even select the nominees for the public vote.”said Julius Beucher, President of the German Disabled Sports Association at the gala in Düsseldorf.
Para-athlete: Anna-Lena Forster (BRSV Radolfzell, Alpine skiing)
Anna-Lena Forster was given a special honor: The 27-year-old was elected for the second time in a row, albeit this time with a very narrow lead over Nordic ski athlete Linn Kazmaier. After her successes at the Paralympics, the monoskier Forster was also in top form in 2023. At the World Championships in Espot, Spain, the 27-year-old from BRSV Radolfzell secured gold in the Super-G, the Super-Combined, the Slalom and the Giant Slalom. There was also a silver medal in the downhill and winning the overall World Cup.
Para-athlete of the year: Anna-Lena Forster
1. Anna-Lena Forster (Alpine skiing / 24.68%) 2. Linn Kazmaier (Nordic skiing / 24.33%) 3. Annika Zeyen-Giles (cycling / 18.44%) 4. Tanja Scholz (swimming / 17 .03%) 5. Irmgard Bensusan (athletics / 15.53%)
Para-athlete: Léon Schäfer (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, athletics)
A long jumper soaring high: At the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris, Léon Schäfer managed to defend his world championship title in the long jump. It was only in the final attempt that the 26-year-old jumped to World Championship gold and also improved his world record in the T63 starting class by one centimeter to 7.25 meters. Schäfer also won bronze in the 100 meters – and is now Para-Athlete of the Year for the first time.
Para-athlete of the year: Long jumper Leon Schäfer
1. Léon Schäfer (athletics / 24.68%) 2. Martin Schulz (triathlon / 21.55%) 3. Marco Maier (Nordic skiing / 20.33%) 4. Taliso Engel (swimming / 17.57%) 5 . Matthias Schindler (cycling / 15.87%)
Para team: cross-country skiing relay in Nordic skiing
The German cross-country skiing relay with Sebastian Marburger, Marco Maier, Linn Kazmaier with guide Florian Baumann and Nico Messinger with guide Robin Wunderle won the 4×2.5 kilometer title at the Para-Nordic Ski World Championships in Östersund. This was achieved thanks to an impressive team performance and despite an anxious moment: Linn Kazmaier had to overcome a crash on the track. Nevertheless, she ran a convincing race and, in fifth place, handed over to final runner Marco Maier, who left the competition behind and secured gold for the relay.
The German cross-country skiing relay with Sebastian Marburger, Marco Maier, Linn Kazmaier with guide Florian Baumann and Nico Messinger with guide Robin Wunderle.
1. Cross-country skiing relay (Nordic skiing / 40.27%) 2. World Cup team relay (cycling / 32.25%) 3. Mixed foursome (rowing / 27.49%)
Para-Young athletes: Yannis Fischer (StTV singing, athletics)
Flag bearer, world champion, record holder: Yannis Fischer made an unforgettable debut at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. After the fifth attempt, the 21-year-old shot putter celebrated the best distance of 11.43 meters in his starting class of short stature. Fischer thus secured gold, the World Cup record and the first international title of his career.
Yannis Fischer – Para Young Athlete of the Year
1. Yannis Fischer (athletics / 27.00%) 2. Anna-Maria Rieder (alpine skiing / 25.18%) 3. Gina Böttcher (swimming / 22.94%) 4. Maximilian Jäger (cycling / 13.96% ) 5. Lennart Sass (Judo / 10.92%)
Coach of the year: Ralf Rombach and Tom Kosmehl
The Para-Nordic national team won eight gold, twelve silver and eight bronze medals at the World Championships in Östersund, Sweden. National coach Ralf Rombach managed to accompany aspiring young talents and established athletes on their individual paths and at the same time form a national team with team spirit.
Coach of the year: Ralf Rombach
But Rombach doesn’t win the Coach of the Year award alone. Tom Kosmehl can also claim the title, because Rombach and Kosmehl received exactly the same number of votes. The para-triathlon national coach describes himself as a “girl for everything” and with his expertise, especially Martin Schulz, has led to numerous, historic successes during his time in office – including this year with gold medals at the World Cup and European Championships.