Forty-two individuals and teams received recognition at the Tiroler Sportehrenzeichen ceremony, honoring grassroots volunteer commitment and international athletic achievements across the Austrian state. Governor Anton Mattle and Sport Councillor Philip Wohlgemuth presented the honors during a dedicated event highlighting the backbone of regional sports, with 18 figures receiving the traditional sports badge for long-standing voluntary service and 23 athletes and teams earning the golden pin with diamonds for major global results, Land Tirol reported.
Volunteers and Grassroots Leaders Honored for Decades of Service
The state recognized 18 individuals with the Tiroler Sportehrenzeichen for exceptional multi-year service as coaches and club functionaries. According to regional reports, this tier of awards spans a diverse spectrum of disciplines, covering tennis, judo, gymnastics, dancing, cue sports, traditional ranggeln wrestling, and deaf sports. Governor Mattle emphasized that 2026 is officially marked as the year of the volunteer in Tirol, pointing out that behind every regional medal and youth program stand individuals who manage clubs and guide young talent over decades without financial reward.
International Champions and Elite Teams Claim Gold Pins with Diamonds
Twenty-three athletes and representative teams received the Tiroler Sportehrennadel in Gold with Brillant, a distinction reserved for podium finishes and top-tier placements at Olympic Games, world championships, and European championships. Among the notable honorees were seven players from the Swarco Raiders Tirol who helped power the Austrian men’s national team to the European championship title in American Football in 2025. The vaulting squad of Reitclub Seefeld also secured recognition for a sustained international career that extended into 2026 with a world championship bronze medal alongside additional European and global podium finishes.
Günther Feuchtner Receives Nachwuchstrainer of the Year 2025 Honor
Günther Feuchtner of Wörgl earned the title of Youth Coach of the Year 2025 in recognition of four decades spent developing young cycling talent. Since joining RC ARBÖ Wörgl as a coach in 1986 and taking over the management of the Rad-Leistungszentrum Tirol-Straße in 1996, Feuchtner has overseen more than 700 victories, approximately 2,000 podium finishes, and over 200 Austrian national championship titles among his trainees. Regional reporting highlights that his decades-long roster of developed riders includes Felix Gall and Thomas Rohregger.
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