A nomination jury has chosen the six nominees for the “Aargau Athlete of the Year 2023” election. These are Michelle Heimberg (diving), Matthias Kyburz (orienteering), Chiara Leone (shooting), Elena Quirici (karate), Nils Stump (judo) and the Tirinzoni team (curling).
The Aargau sports year 2023 was a successful year. This is shown by the fact that the jury was spoiled for choice when selecting the six nominees for the election. And so it is that this year several medal winners at the World and European Championships did not make it into the top 6 nominees. Now there are two men, three women and a women’s team who are fighting to succeed beach soccer player Noel Ott. He won the election last year. There are two athletes from Fricktal: Matthias Kyburz and Chiara Leone.
Matthias Kyburz is already a “regular” in the “Aargau Sportsman of the Year” election. The 33-year-old orienteer from Möhlin is taking part for the ninth time. He earned this year’s nomination with a great 2023 season: Kyburz became world champion in the middle distance and relay, won World Championship silver in the long distance, became European champion in the sprint and in the knock-out sprint and secured European silver in the European Championships the sprint relay. Kyburz also won the overall World Cup and took gold at the Swiss cross-country and middle distance championships. Chiara Leone, the 25-year-old professional shooter from Frick, looks back on by far her most successful season to date. Chiara Leone literally hoarded medals at major events. She became world champion in the team and mixed rifle 50-meter lying competition. She also won gold in the 10-meter air rifle team and silver in the 50-meter three-position team at the European Games. And she was also able to win four medals at the Military World Championships: Chiara Leone was crowned world champion in the 50-meter prone match in the individual and the team as well as in the three-position competition in the team. There was also a bronze medal in the three-position 50 meter individual competition. She was also able to claim a victory in the World Cup. She won this with the team in the three-position competition. She also became Swiss champion in the 10-meter air rifle.
Michelle Heimberg (diving) was also nominated. The 23-year-old from Fislisbach has impressed this year in the World Cup with several rankings in the top 10 and particularly impressed at the European Games in Krakow.
Elena Quirici, the Aargau athlete of the year 2019, is nominated for the election again this year. The 29-year-old karateka from Schinznach-Dorf was crowned European champion in the Kumite category up to 68 kilograms, also won the silver medal in the same category at the World Championships and the European Games and became Swiss champion.
26-year-old Nils Stump (judo), who lives in Windisch, was also nominated. He achieved two historic things this season. First, he won his second title at a Grand Slam tournament in Tel Aviv in February. No Swiss judoka has ever won a title at this level before him. At the World Championships in May he immediately doubled that. In the weight class up to 73 kilograms he was the strongest athlete and was able to win the gold medal – again as the first Swiss ever in judo.
The Tirinzoni team from the Curling Club Aarau is also nominated. This is currently the measure of all things in international curling. The Aarau women won the world championship title for the fourth time in a row last March – and without losing a single game. (nfz)
From now on, the Aargau athlete of the year can be voted for at www.aargauersport.ch/sport-gala.
2024-01-17 23:55:57
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