Gala in Baden-Baden: “Sportsman of the Year 2024” awards presented

The athletes of the year 2024 were honored at a glamorous gala broadcast by ZDF on Sunday evening, December 15th, at the Kurhaus Baden-Baden. Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev (18) won among the women, while Olympic champion Oliver Zeidler (28) won among the men. The 3×3 basketball players were named team of the year. They also triumphed in Paris in the summer.

The elections were quite close: Darja Varfolomeev, who was the first German to win gold in rhythmic gymnastics in Paris, was only 79 points ahead of shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye (26). Dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (38) came third. Varfolomeev received the award from former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber (36) and remembered her Olympic victory: “I was pretty sure that I could show what I had trained. It was a huge relief.”

It was also close for the men. With a lead of just 47 points, individual rower Oliver Zeidler was voted into first place ahead of Olympic swimming champion Lukas Märtens (22). Triathlete and Ironman world champion Patrick Lange (38) came third.

However, the 3×3 basketball players clearly triumphed in the election for team of the year. The quartet of Svenja Brunckhorst (33), Sonja Greinacher (32), Marie Reichert (23) and Elisa Mevius (20) surprisingly won gold at the Olympic Games. The Bayer Leverkusen footballers came in second place, and the men’s national handball team came third.

The “Lifetime Award” went to former professional soccer player Toni Kroos (34). Former gymnast Kim Bui (35) received the Sparkasse Prize, which is awarded to role models. She is committed to raising awareness about eating disorders and was elected to the IOC Athletes Commission in the summer.

The female and male athlete of the year have been honored since 1947. Around 3,000 voting members of the Association of German Sports Journalists chose the winners. Around 700 guests followed the 78th edition of the sports award in Baden-Baden on December 15th.