Awards for the best
The award for female athlete of the year went to the impressive track and field athlete Victoria Hudson. The Olympic kitesurfing champion received the title for the sportsman of the year Valentin Bontus. In the Sportswomen with Disabilities category, the track and field athlete was Natalija Eder honored during the para-cyclist Thomas Frühwirt received the award among men. The team of the year is the talented Sailors Lara Vadlau and Lukas Mähr. At the Special Olympics, the speed skater was Veronika Kaube and the alpine skier Simon Berchtold Named Sportsman of the Year. Kilian Fischhuber, a climbing expert, was named coach of the year, and the title of newcomer of the year went to handball talent Constantin Möstl.
Special tribute for Dominic Thiem
An emotional highlight of the gala was the presentation of the Special Award to tennis star Dominic Thiem, presented by soccer legend David Alaba. This was Alaba's gala premiere in Vienna, at which the two athletes paid tribute to each other. To celebrate Thiem's career, he received video congratulations from tennis greats such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. ”Tennis will miss you dearly“, says Federer. Thiem, who won his home ATP tournament at Stadthalle in 2019, reflected on his career and the valuable encounters that shaped him.
The Special Award honors Thiem's impressive career, which, in addition to winning the US Open 2020, also features 16 other titles and three Grand Slam tournament finals. With this award, the 31-year-old joins an illustrious list of top-class sports personalities who have previously received NIKI for the Special Award, including legends such as Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franz Klammer, Hans Krankl, Toni Innauer, Hermann Maier and Niki Lauda.
Youth Sports Prize 2024
Another highlight of the gala was the awarding of the Youth Sports Prize worth 20,000 euros. Mag. Markus Mateyka, managing director of Haemo Pharma, and Erich Steinreiber, CEO of ISS Austria, presented the coveted awards to promising talents up to 18 years of age.
Mag. Mateyka emphasized:”It is an honor to support these young athletes. Your funding is crucial for the future of sport in Austria. ”
Winner of the Youth Sports Prize
girls:
- Lilli Hohenauer & Lia Berger (Beach volleyball) — 5,000 euros for gold at the U18 European championship and bronze at the U20 European championship.
- Maya Varoschitz (alpine skiing, slalom) — 3,000 euros for several medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Korea.
- Magdalena Rauter (track and field, pole vault) — 2,000 euros for silver at the U20 World Championships and consistently high performances.
Boys:
- Joel Schwärzler (Tennis) — 5,000 euros for successes in the junior world rankings and several tournament victories, including the ITF Masters.
- Stephan Embacher (ski jumping) — 3,000 euros for outstanding achievements as junior world champion in individual and team jumping.
- Timo Uznik (Climbing) — 2,000 euros for gold and bronze at the European Youth Championships in Helsinki.
The Sporthilfe Gala and the Youth Sports Prize send a strong signal for the promotion of young talent in Austria. We are looking forward to the coming years and the continued successes of these exceptional athletes!
Pictures: © GEPA Pictures/Sports Aid
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