National handball player Julian Köster and dressage Olympic champion Isabelle Werth have been named North Rhine-Westphalia’s athlete of the year at the felix award 2024. “The nominated personalities have always inspired us and given us unforgettable moments. With the felix award we want to honor them as top athletes and as ambassadors for tolerance, respect and team spirit,” said NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst.
Julian Köster, one of the defining faces of Germany’s silver medal success at the Olympics, prevailed in the audience voting against the other nominees Christian Kukuk (jumping), Lasse Lührs (triathlon), Max Rendschmidt (canoe racing) and Michael Jung (eventing).
Isabelle Werth also had a successful Olympic summer and won silver in the individual and gold in the team. Germany’s most successful Olympian beat, among others, Anna-Maria Wagner (judo) in the vote. Para-athlete of the year was Sandra Mikolaschek, who won table tennis gold in Paris. The hockey men were team of the year. They too had brought in precious metal in Paris. After the final defeat against the Netherlands there was silver.
Since 2007, athletes from North Rhine-Westphalia who have distinguished themselves in a special way have been honored with the felix award. With this award, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the State Sports Association of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Sportstiftung NRW honor both top-class sport and outstanding sports personalities.
