Darja Varfolomeev and Oliver Zeidler were crowned the top athletes at the 2024 German Sportsperson of the Year Awards held at the Kurhaus Baden-Baden on December 15, 2024. The prestigious event saw Varfolomeev, aged 18, recognized not just for her dedication but for making history as the first German to win Olympic gold in rhythmic gymnastics
After her triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Varfolomeev described her feelings, saying, "Ich war mir ziemlich sicher, dass ich zeigen kann, was ich trainiert habe. Es war eine riesige Erleichterung" (I was pretty sure I could show what I have trained for. It was a huge relief). Her victory came after she securely clinched her spot as the favorite, finishing the voting round with 79 points more than her closest competitor, shot put champion Yemisi Ogunleye, who also had her moment of glory on the Olympic stage. The third place went to equestrian Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who also dazzled at the Games, winning double gold.
On the men's side, it was another close finish, with rower Oliver Zeidler overcoming swimming champion Lukas Märtens by just 47 points. Zeidler, who had previously earned multiple world titles, expressed his joy and relief following his Olympic victory, noting, "Das war ein Rennen für die Ewigkeit. Ich habe es genossen. Und es ist wie im Traum vergangen" (That was a race for eternity. I enjoyed it. And it went by like a dream).
The awards show highlighted the remarkable achievements of Germany's athletes during the Olympic Games, particularly the domination of the 3x3 women's basketball team, who were selected as Team of the Year. Led by coach Samir Suliman, the team comprised Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Marie Reichert, and Elisa Mevius, all of whom played pivotal roles during their Olympic campaign. Coach Suliman stated, "Es geht darum, dass man eine Einheit ist" (It’s about being one unit).
The event illustrated how Varfolomeev's hard work, honed through her rigorous training regimen of over 50 hours weekly and her previous experiences, paid off, culminating in this outstanding recognition. The gymnast's dedication has made her the embodiment of perseverance, especially considering her artistic performance with hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon during the Olympic competition. Varfolomeev, alongside her coach, Yuliya Raskina, celebrated her rise to stardom, as they recognized the road paved with sacrifices and overcome challenges to reach these heights.
Varfolomeev's inspiring story began when she arrived from Siberia at age 12, learning to adapt to her new life and surroundings, eventually representing Germany through her passion for rhythmic gymnastics. Now, she resides with her father and dog Chihuahua and balances her training, showcasing remarkable success both as a gymnast and as a student aiming to finish her Realschulabschluss next year.
On the men's side, Zeidler's story resonates deeply within the rowing community as he followed his father's path to success, proving his prowess by capturing Olympic gold, something previously done by only one other German single sculler, Thomas Lange, back in 1988 and 1992. The close competition emphasized the intense caliber of athletes present, with Märtens poised as another strong competitor.
Other notable mentions included the results of the award categories. The women's team of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who had previously dominated the Bundesliga, finished second behind the 3x3 team, once again highlighting the popularity and competitiveness of sports within Germany. The men's national handball team, who took home silver from Paris, rounded off the podium positions as deserving recipients for their performances.
The awards night certainly encapsulated the spirit of sportsmanship, dedication, and triumph, with both Varfolomeev and Zeidler proving to be deserving champions. With the continued rise of various sports, especially the growing popularity of trends like 3x3 basketball, Germany is likely to see even more stellar performances and athletes come forward, giving hope and excitement about the future of athletics.
