Ricarda Bauernfeind: Cyclist Named ‘Sports Scholarship Holder of the Year’ 2023

Cyclist Ricarda Bauernfeind is “Sports Scholarship Holder of the Year” 2023. The two-time U23 World Championship third-place finisher took part in the Tour de France Femme for the first time this year, won a stage straight away and finished ninth in the overall ranking. At the same time, the 23-year-old from Eichstätt is writing her bachelor’s thesis in the vocational teaching course (nutrition, home economics & sport) at the Technical University of Munich. In the online vote initiated by Deutsche Bank and Sporthilfe in August among all sports fans, Bauernfeind relegated Anne-Kathrin Berndt (sitting volleyball), Léa Krüger (fencing), Jona Pörsch (taekwondo) and Christopher Schütt (hockey) to shared second place.

Deutsche Bank and Sporthilfe presented the prestigious award, which honors successful top athletes for exceptional achievements in sport and studies, for the eleventh time this year. Deutsche Bank doubles the winner’s monthly scholarship from 300 euros to 600 euros for 18 months. For the same period, the finalists receive additional funding of 50 percent of the scholarship.

Karl von Rohr, member of the board of Deutsche Bank: “The five finalists are absolute role models, just like all of the other 300 or so top talents that we support with the Deutsche Bank Sports Scholarship. What they all achieve every day is impressive and deserves our highest recognition. But despite their success, most of them cannot make a living from their sport. That’s why, as a national sponsor of Sporthilfe, it is a matter close to our hearts to support particularly those who are building their professional future through studying alongside competitive sport.

Thomas Berlemann, CEO of Deutsche Sporthilfe: “Ricarda Bauernfeind has already indicated her great potential in 2022 with two bronze medals at the U23 World Championships, which she impressively confirmed this year with a ninth place in the overall ranking at the Tour de France Femme. In addition, as a Tour debutant, she put another big exclamation mark in her young career with a stage win. Despite the many kilometers of training and competition on the bike, she is simultaneously writing her bachelor’s thesis in her teaching degree. Among five very impressive finalists, Ricarda is a worthy sports scholarship holder of the year – the eleventh winner since 2013 that we can award together with Deutsche Bank. We are very grateful to our national sponsor for this support.”

Prize winner Ricarda Bauernfeind is overwhelmed: “This year seems like a big dream that I don’t want to wake up from. First the successes on the Tour de France – and now Germany’s sports fans have voted me sports scholarship holder of the year! For me, this is a huge honor that I still can’t fully understand. Many thanks to everyone who voted for me, but especially to Sporthilfe and Deutsche Bank, without whose support I and many other athletes would not be able to practice our sport so successfully.”

Previous winners of the election included long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, javelin throw Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, hockey Olympic champion Martin Häner and judo Olympic bronze medalist Theresa Stoll. In 2022, open water swimmer Leonie Beck, who won gold twice at the World Championships in July, was named “Sports Scholar of the Year”.

With the award, Deutsche Bank, a partner of Sporthilfe since 2001 and a national sponsor since 2008, recognizes the achievements of top student athletes. The bank is committed to supporting young people in achieving their goals – both in top-class sport and in their studies. In doing so, it makes a positive contribution to the student athletes, for whom the bank is a reliable partner in their efforts to combine competitive sports and a professional career. Up to 300 athletes supported by Sporthilfe benefit from the Deutsche Bank Sports Scholarship.

All scholarship holders supported by Sporthilfe could apply with their achievements in sports and studies that they achieved from May 2022 to April 2023. A jury from sports, politics, business and media selected five athletes from the applications before the online vote (portraits of the athletes below www.sportstipendiat.de).

The winners of the “Sports Scholarship Holder of the Year” election:

2023: Cyclist Ricarda Bauernfeind

2022: Open water swimmer Leonie Beck

2021: Kitesurferin Leonie Meyer

2020: Wheelchair basketball player Annabel Breuer

2019: Ski-Freestyler’s Kea Kühnel

2018: Javelin thrower Thomas Röhler

2017: Judoka Theresa Stoll

2016: Sprinterin Lisa Mayer

2015: Triathletin Sophia Saller

2014:Weitspringerin Malaika Mihambo