The star ensemble from record champions FC Bayern Munich is the best team in 2020. NHL professional Leon Draisaitl and long jumper Malaika Mihambo were honored as athletes of the year at the gala in Baden-Baden, which was dominated by the corona pandemic: At the coronation after This special year Bavaria boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Malaika Mihambo looked into the almost deserted Benazetsaal, Leon Draisaitl beamed on an oversized screen.
Team of the year: FC Bayern Munich
The team of coach Hansi Flick had left the voting German sports journalists little choice. The star ensemble around the newly crowned world footballer Robert Lewandowski secured the second triple in the club’s history and delighted the whole world of football. To top it off, Rummenigge, Hasan Salihamidzic and Niklas Süle accepted the congratulations for a perfect year of sports.
With a clear lead over the French Open winners Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies (1126 points) and the bobsleigh team around Francesco Friedrich (839), the Munich team (1763) won the election for Team of the Year for the fourth time after 1967, 2001 and 2013 take over from the ski jumping men.
Sportsman of the year: NHL professional Leon Draisaitl
Draisaitl was the best among the best ice hockey players in the world. In the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers striker played the season of his life: with 43 goals and 67 assists, he put the superstars in the shade – and was deservedly awarded the trophy for Most Valuable Player (MVP).
His lifelong dream of winning the Stanley Cup remained unmatched, but the personal award in the USA was “a huge thing,” said the Cologne native. “It’s a great honor for me.” The award in his home country as the best individual athlete of the year, which he was the first ever ice hockey player to receive, crowns an almost perfect year of sports for him.
With 1768 points and a huge lead, the successor of decathlon world champion Niklas Kaul won the election ahead of javelin thrower Johannes Vetter (649) and three-time Ironman world champion Jan Frodeno (517).
Sportswoman of the year: Malaika Mihambo
For the long jump world champion Mihambo, however, the year went very differently than expected: Due to the postponed hunt for Olympic gold, the big favorite has to wait a few months until her dream can be fulfilled. In addition, the planned training with nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis has so far fallen victim to the corona pandemic.
And yet the 26-year-old from Heidelberg was in top form again this year: World annual best of 7.03 meters – from a shortened attempt. As in the previous year, Mihambo (898 points) impressed the world of sports and narrowly beat British Open winner Sophia Popov (781) and three-time track cycling world champion Emma Hinze (746). In 2019 she won the prestigious award.
Trainer of the year: Bernd Berkhahn
National trainer Bernd Berkhahn from the German Swimming Association (DSV) was named Trainer of the Year. The 49-year-old looks after the world champions Florian Wellbrock and Sarah Köhler.
Newcomer of the year: Lea Sophie Friedrich
Track bike sprinter Lea Sophie Friedrich won in the Newcomer of the Year category. The 20-year-old became world champion in the 500-meter time trial and in the team sprint this year. She also secured four gold medals at the U23 European Championships.
Sports legends of the decade
Basketball superstar Dirk Nowitzki, biathlete Magdalena Neuner and the beach volleyball duo Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst were also honored for the first time as “Germany’s sports legends of the decade”.
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