Jannik Sinner and Evelin Lanthaler were the celebrated heroes. © DLife

Here they are: South Tyrol's Sportsman of the Year

This Friday evening, the moment had come: As part of the grand Sporthilfe Gala at the Merano Kurhaus, the athletes and team of the year were crowned. The men's award went to the star guest, while the women's awards received a huge farewell gift.

11 April 2025

From the Kurhaus in Meran

For the 37th time this has happened Tagblatt Dolomites The most successful and popular athletes were sought out – and they were found with the help of countless reader votes. The best athletes and teams were honored in Merano based on their achievements in the 2024 calendar year.

In the women's category, Evelin Lanthaler took the crown for the second consecutive year and also for the second time in her long and incredibly successful career as a natural track luger. It was also a crowning achievement, as the luge icon from Passeier Valley ended her career at the end of the season. The eight-time world champion and overall World Cup winner collected 9.925 votes.

Behind Lanthaler, a new face climbs onto the athlete election podium: Antholz biathlete Hannah Auchentaller pushed past her national teammate and five-time Sportswoman of the Year, Dorothea Wierer (3.713), with 3.469 votes.

The men's athlete vote was a clear winner, as could be expected. With an outstanding 16.040 votes, Jannik Sinner topped the readers' list for the fourth time in a row. He also enjoyed the favor of his fans at the Kurhaus, where he was greeted with thunderous applause from the guests in attendance. The tennis superstar had already attracted everyone’s attention upon his arrival at the Thermenplatz.

Sinner, who won two Grand Slam titles last year and reached number one in the world rankings, was able to shake off a three-time Sportsman of the Year, Dominik Paris (5.342). Behind "Domme," a newcomer, national handball player Leo Prantner from Merano, took third place.

The closest decision in this year's voting was the Team of the Year award. Artificial track lugers Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer climbed from second to first place this year.

2024 readers voted for the 10.869 women's doubles sprint world champions. Behind them, the ice hockey stars of HC Pustertal (7.796) held their own, narrowly ahead of the Italian handball champions from Brixen (6.920).

9 sports figureheads honored

A highlight of the Sporthilfe Gala was the farewell to nine exceptional South Tyrolean athletes who recently ended their illustrious careers. Laura Letrari (To swim), Hannes Kiem (Football), Martin Sonnerer (handball), Riccardo Tonetti (Alpine skiing), Federico Sanfilippo (biathlon and cross-country skiing), Greta Pinggera, Evelin Lanthaler, Florian Clara and Patrick Pigneter (all natural track luge).

However, not only legends and the absolute crème de la crème were awarded, but also two athletes who are just at the beginning of their careers: footballer Eva Schatzer and ice hockey players Tommy PurdellerThey received the Ossi Pircher Prize for the best young athletes.