VIENNA, October 17, 2023 - Ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig and cyclist Felix Gall are Austria's sportsmen and women of the year 2023, while the footballers who have qualified for the UEFA EURO 2024 came out on top among the teams. The winners received the "NIKI", a trophy named after Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda. The "Special Award" went to three red-white-red sports legends, all born in 1953. The eight-time World Cup winner in alpine skiing, Annemarie Moser, and soccer star Hans Krankl are already 70 years old, and downhill Olympic champion Franz Klammer will be in December.
THE GALA NIGHT The athletes chosen by the members of Sports Media Austria were honoured at the Lotterien Sporthilfe Gala in the Wiener Stadthalle, which was broadcast live on ORF TV. Pinkelnig prevailed over Mona Mitterwallner (mountain bike) and Anna Gasser (snowboard), two world champions in their sports. In the men's category, Tour de France stage winner Gall won ahead of Jakob Schubert (climbing world champion) and Johannes Lamparter (Nordic combined). Behind the soccer team were the Red Bull and the synchronized swimmers Anna Maria and Eirini Marina Alexandri.
2023 MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENT Golfer Sepp Straka, winner of a PGA tournament this year and with Europe in the Ryders Cup, was awarded for the most emotional moment in the 2023 sports year. The Viennese came fourth in the election. When the three legends Moser, Krankl and Klammer were honoured, the 1,300 guests gave them a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
From left: Three legends of Austria, all born in 1953 Hans Krankl and Annemarie Moser reached the 70s, Franz Klammer will be in December (GEPA/Sporthilfe).
