After gold in Paris
Zeidler is Germany’s athlete of the year – Varfolomoeev also wins
Updated 12/15/2024 – 9:43 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Every year Germany’s athlete of the year is chosen. This year the title goes to an Olympic champion.
Oliver Zeidler is Germany’s Athlete of the Year 2024. The single rower and Olympic champion in Paris won the 78th sports journalists’ election in Baden-Baden and prevailed in a very close race against Olympic swimming champion Lukas Märtens.
With 1,694 points, Zeidler was only 47 points ahead of Märtens (1,647), who impressed with his victory in the 400 meter freestyle in Paris. The German triathlete and Ironman champion Patrick Lange came in third, collecting 1,439 points.
Gymnast Darja Varfolomeev triumphed in the women’s category. Her lead over the second-placed team was also narrow. Yemisi Ogunleye only had 79 points less. The shot putter completely unexpectedly won gold in Paris.
Varfolomeev’s fairy tale in rhythmic gymnastics was rated a bit higher by the approximately 3,000 voting members of the Association of German Sports Journalists in the 78th edition of the prestigious election. Dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who won double gold in the French capital, came third.
The team of the year is the 3×3 basketball players – so only gold medalists from the French Games triumphed.
Decathlete Leo Neugebauer, who won the silver medal in Paris, achieved a four-digit result and took fourth place with 1,043 points. Fifth place went to eventing rider Michael Jung (941).
The award in the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden is considered one of the most prestigious honors in German sport. Zeidler was visibly moved after the election: “This title is a great honor, especially in a year with so many strong German athletes.”
The choice highlights the diversity in top German sport, from traditional disciplines such as rowing and swimming to exceptional sports such as triathlon and extreme sports.