Forty-two individuals and teams received the Tiroler Sportehrenzeichen during a regional awards ceremony in Austria, highlighting local athletic achievements and long-serving volunteers across various sports federations.
Landeshauptmann Anton Mattle praised the dedication of volunteers during the presentation, pointing to the upcoming year as a focal point for community service in athletics. „2026 steht in Tirol ganz im Zeichen des Ehrenamts. Gerade im Sport zeigt sich, wie viel freiwilliges Engagement bewegt“, Mattle stated. Sportreferent LHStv. Philip Wohlgemuth echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that competitive results depend heavily on grassroots support networks. „Sportlicher Erfolg entsteht nie allein. Das Herz unserer Vereine sind jene Menschen, die ihre Zeit, ihre Erfahrung und ihre Begeisterung einbringen“, Wohlgemuth said.””
Volunteer Honors and Coaching Excellence
The annual recognition program divided recipients into two primary categories. Eighteen individuals received the standard Sportehrenzeichen for long-standing voluntary service as trainers and functionaries in disciplines such as tennis, judo, and gymnastics. Among those honored for administrative and coaching contributions were Andreas Auer of the Sportclub Laufteam Breitenbach, Birgit Brunner for kayak whitewater instruction, Walter Egger of the Union Raiffeisen Radteam Tirol, and Alois Engl from the Ski Klub Kirchberg.
Additional recipients included Oswald Helm for mountain and watersports in Kufstein, Christian Holzäpfel of SK Auto Kluckner Rum, Hubert Hotter for regional women’s handball, Anton Koller for rangglersport, Thomas Riml representing the Tyrolean Billards Association, and Michael Schleich of the Tyrolean Deaf Sports Association. Martin Seelos of FC Tarrenz, Reinhold Sigl of Tennisclub Hungerburg, Birgit Steinegger for dance sports, Helmut Stöger for tennis in Wildschönau, Brigitte Thurnbichler of Turnerschaft Sparkasse Schwaz, Susanne and Werner Vogler for judo in Reutte, and Gertraud Weger of FC Union Innsbruck completed the list of volunteer honorees.
Special recognition went to Günther Feuchtner of Wörgl, who was named Youth Coach of the Year 2025. Active as a coach with RC ARBÖ Wörgl since 1986 and director of the Tirol-Straße Cycling Performance Center, Feuchtner has guided athletes to more than 700 victories and over 200 Austrian championship titles. His past trainees include Felix Gall and Thomas Rohregger.
International Successes and Elite Medalists
Twenty-three athletes and teams received the Sportehrennadel in Gold mit Brillant, an honor reserved for competitors who achieve top-six finishes at Olympic Games or World Championships, or podium finishes at European Championships within senior divisions.
The elite group featured winter sports competitors and team sport representatives. Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schöpf earned recognition for competitive luge, Samuel Maier for skeleton, Anna Petutschnig for speed skating, and Harald Auer for skibobbing. Cycling was represented by Felix Gall, climbing by Jan-Luca Posch, swimming by Bernhard Reitshammer, stocksport by Selina Adler, and flag football by Tabea Fiegl.
Team achievements were also marked. Seven members of the Swarco Raiders Tirol—Thomas Aronokhale, Tobias Bonatti, Lukas Haslwanter, Jan Mayerhofer, Vincent Müller, Adrian Platzgummer, and Tobias Rodlauer—received the honor following their 2025 European Championship victory in American football. The vaulting team from Reitclub Seefeld, comprising Lena Bachbauer, Nina Bachbauer, Rebecca Frießer, Georg Gabl, Sarah Gollubics, and Sophie Pittl, was also recognized for their successes.
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