A total of 171 Esslingen residents were honored at the athlete honor. There was also news about Swearing Day.
©Sabine Watzko
Group picture with the athlete, the young athlete and the team of the year.
How often does a German gymnastics champion train? Why does a German champion say goodbye to the Bundesliga immediately after winning the title and what does sport achieve in terms of inclusion and integration? The around 250 guests got answers to these and many other questions at the Esslingen athlete honor.
Inclusion in focus
The evening was moderated by sports reporter Tom Bartels. This year the focus was on the topic of inclusion. The guest was Anja Wicker, a multiple overall World Cup winner in para-biathlon and cross-country skiing who has also taken part in the Paralympics. In a talk with Mayor Matthias Klopfer, Gregory Darcy from TanzKompanie Esslingen and Dr. Ulrike Wortha-Weiß (Vice President of the Württemberg Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association) everyone agreed: Inclusion is a topic that deserves more attention in politics. “Baden-Württemberg is currently at the bottom of the states when it comes to joint teaching of children with disabilities and those without disabilities,” said Klopfer.
Dr. Wortha-Weiß reported that the problem in sports is often the non-barrier-free sports facilities and few offers for people with disabilities. To counteract this, Gregory Darcy offers dancers with disabilities the chance to perform with the TanzKompanie Esslingen. The audience was able to see for themselves how well this worked during the subsequent performance.
Anja Wicker talked about her experiences as a para-athlete. “If I want to move around Germany, I have to plan it in good time and in detail because we are far from having barrier-free options everywhere. In other countries such as the USA and Scandinavia, this is already completely different and much more normal,” said Wicker, describing the situation.
What the Esslingen clubs achieve in terms of inclusion and integration was demonstrated by the moving honor given to the Ukrainian wheelchair fencer Serhii Shavkun, who fled from Crimea to Esslingen and was honored for his runner-up world championship title in wheelchair fencing.
Team of the year
The “Team of the Year” award went to the judo men from KSV Esslingen. They won the German championship title for the first time in 2023. Shortly afterwards, however, it was decided to withdraw from the Judo Bundesliga. Coach and team boss Carsten Finkbeiner explained this with personal and professional reasons: “The time required has increased in recent years. At the same time, my workload was increasing and I have a three-year-old son who I also want to have time for.”
The RC Oberesslingen women’s 4-person unicycle team took second place. They celebrated the runner-up title at the German Championships. Third place goes to the U17 water polo players from SSV Esslingen, who won the German championship title.
Sportsman of the year
Felix Kurz, judoka from KSV Esslingen, was chosen as athlete of the year. With the title of Sportsman of the Year and Team of the Year, he was able to take home two awards. Due to KSV’s withdrawal from the Bundesliga, Felix Kurz will fight for Bundesliga club TSG Backnang in the future.
Wheelchair fencer Felix Schrader took second place as vice world champion in U23 wheelchair fencing. Glider pilot Gerrit Neugebauer took third place as German champion in the junior club class.
Female athlete of the year
Anni Bantel, gymnast from TSV Berkheim, won in the Female Athlete of the Year category. In 2023, the 13-year-old national team athlete became, among other things, two-time German youth champion on the balance and uneven bars as well as German runner-up in the all-around. The gymnast came straight from the training hall to the honor and explained to Tom Bartels that in addition to a four-hour lunchtime training, she had also completed a training session in the morning. When asked when one was allowed to compete in the Olympics, Anni Bantel knew straight away that the minimum age was 16 years. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles would not be a problem, at least due to age.
Second place went to Alexandra Rudl from NONPLUSULTRA eV, who came third at the women’s XTERRA World Championships in the 40-45 age group. Third place went to Katrin Gottschalk, who became German champion in the 100-kilometer ultra marathon.
Young athlete of the year
Karate fighter Nives Podvorec won the title of Young Athlete of the Year. She was not only successful nationally as German champion, but also won the European Youth League in Porec, Croatia, the most important youth karate competition in Europe with more than 3,000 participants.
A total of 171 athletes from 16 clubs were honored for their achievements in 2023. Lea Riedel, shot putter at VfB Stuttgart, reported on how rocky the road to success can be. Because she was missing three centimeters, she was removed from the national squad and now has to forego funding. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old student is still fighting for a place in the Olympics. The consequences of the deletion impressively showed how top-class sport is financed and functions in Germany apart from the main sports of football and handball.
Swearing Day and European Football Championships
Speaking of football: At the athletes’ honor, Tom Bartels predicted that the German national football team would take part in the quarter-finals at the upcoming home European Championships. This convinced the mayor: Matthias Klopfer announced that this year’s Oath Day ceremony would be brought forward to 4 p.m. because a German European Championship quarter-final could take place on that day. If the German footballers are only half as successful at the European Championships as the Esslingen athletes, then this decision is certainly the right one.
Mayor’s Office
Press, public relations and communication
Press, public relations and communication
Town Hall Square 2
73728 Esslingen am Neckar
Nicole Amolsch
trunk line
Press spokesperson
New Town Hall building
Room 110
Esslingen
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2024-03-27 11:15:34
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