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AUSTRIA
Austrian Athlete of the Year 2023 “Niki” Award goes to ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig and cyclist Felix Gall
Austria’s sportswoman of the year, Eva Pinkelnig, and sports- man Felix Gall (GEPA/Sporthilfe)
By Josef Langer Ski jumper Eva Pinkelnig and cyclist Felix Gall are Austria’s Athletes of the year 2023, while the footballers who qualified for UEFA Euro 2024 came out on top among the teams. The winners received the “NIKI” trophy, named after For- mula 1 legend Niki Lauda. The “Special Award” went to three legends, all born in 1953. The eight-time World Cup winner in alpine skiing, Annemarie Mo- ser, football star Hans Krankl, and downhill Olympic champion Franz Klammer.
The athletes chosen by the members of Sports Media Aus- tria were honoured at the Lotter- ien Sporthilfe Gala in the Wiener Stadthalle. The Gala was broad- cast live on ORF TV. Pinkelnig prevailed over Mona Mitterwall- ner (mountain biking) and Anna Gasser (snowboarding), two world champions in their sports. In the men's category, Tour de France stage winner Gall won ahead of Jakob Schubert (climb- ing world champion) and Jo- hannes Lamparter (Nordic com- bined). Golfer Sepp Straka was awarded for the most emotional moment in the 2023 sports year. When the three legends Moser, Krankl and Klammer were hon- oured, the 1,300 guests gave them a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
FROM THE WORLD
LUXEMBOURG
Sports press crowns Leandro Barreiro and Patrizia van der Weken
By Petz Lahure Football was the big winner at sportspress.lu's Awards Night held on December 7 at the Casino 2000 in Mondorf- les-Bains (Grand-Duchy of Lux- embourg). The number 1 national sport took three of the four titles that were up for grabs, namely Best Sportsman (Leandro Barrei- ro), Best Team (National Team) and Coach of the Year (Luc Holtz). The award for Best Sportswoman went to Patrizia Van der Weken, gold medallist in the 100m at the World University Games in Chengdu (Chi- na). Leandro Barreiro is the fifth footballer to be voted Best Sports- man by the members of sports- press.lu. He collected 415 points, well ahead of Grand Prix Hermès winner Victor Bettendorf (Equestri- an, 223) and his teammate in the national team, goalkeeper Anthony Moris (168). In the women's cate- gory, athlete Patrizia Van der Wek- en (360 points) won after a tight head-to-head battle with European triathlon champion Jeanne Lehair (346). The podium was completed by the very young cyclocross rider Marie Schreiber.
Other prizes went to basketball player Ehis Etute and swimmer Finn Kemp (Prix du Jeune Espoir), para-sport shooter Steve Nothum (Prix Sport et handicap), sev- en-time marathon runner Pit Van Rijswijck (Prix Ultra Sport) and the evergreen Cycloccross Masters world champion (W55-59) Suzie Godart (Prix d'Honneur).
Leandro Barreiro, sportsman of the year 2023, with Petz Lahure, president of sportspress.lu, and Marcel Leyers (right), director of Banque Internationale, sponsor of the trophy (Photo by sports- press.lu / Alain Rischard)
AIPSMAGAZINE | 25
USPA’s founding father, Mzee Freedie Sekitto, speaking to the current USPA president Moses Alsayed Lubega (who is holding the symbolic USPA flag produced in 1974) and other members of the USPA Executive on stage during the USPA Gala. (Photo by USPA)
UGANDA
USPAward, a mark of undisputed excellence: Uganda Sports Press Association celebrates the unmatched
By Ritah Aliguma The crème de la crème of Uganda’s sports industry gath- ered at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on September 23, 2023, to reward the best athletes for the years (2021 and 2022).
The USPA Gala was last held in 2020. Long distance runners Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo were crowned USPA Sports Personality of the year 2021 and 2022 respectively to a rousing applause.
Cheptegei, for his milestone at the Tokyo Olympics, where he claimed gold and silver in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres while Kiplimo secured gold in both the 5000 and 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom. They were fittingly “The unmatched” drawing from the event's theme. In his speech USPA’s founding father, Mzee Freedie Sekitt recalled the creation story of the 54-year-old sports journalism body and highlighted the legacy of the award. In one of the most significant moments of the ceremony, the founding father passed on the USPA flag to the current president –Moses Alsayed Lube- ga, as a symbol of principled stewardship. Sekitt challenged Lubega to preserve USPA’s democratic principle.
Lubega stressed the role of the sports media in preserving the power of sport as a tool for social change. He appealed to the political elite to support the growth of the profession without trespassing on media independence. Lubenga added that the sports press has the appetite to challenge itself in all professional fields: science, Information Technology, engineering, fashion, entertainment, etc.
URUGUAY
Rower Felipe Klüver and Uruguay men’s U20 world champions receive “Charrúa de Oro”
By Ernesto Ortiz Gomez The Circle of Sports Journalists of Uruguay cel- ebrated the 50th edition of its Charrúa Awards, where the best athletes of the year in 59 sports disciplines were honoured.
The ceremony took place on September 25, 2023, in the Héctor Tosar Hall of the Nelly Goitiño Auditorium.
The period taken into account for the awards was July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The “Charrúa de Oro” went to the World Cup-winning Uruguay U20 foot- ball team and rower Felipe Klüver, U23 world champion.
For the “Charrúa de Plata”, Rower Bruno Cetraro received the distinction of “sports feat”, figure skater Elizabeth Chiappini was awarded the “best perfor- mance abroad”. Javelin thrower Manuela Rotundo was considered the “revela- tion of the year”, while cyclist Mauricio Moreira received the distinction of “best Uruguayan athlete abroad.” The “Charrúa de Cristal”, recognising the best “Char- rúa de Oro” of the 49 previous editions went to athlete Deborah Rodríguez and cyclist Milton Wynants. The Uruguayan Olympic Committee received a special recognition for its centenary, which was celebrated on October 27, 2023 with the IOC President Thomas Bach in attendance; the Uruguayan Rowing Federation for its outstanding and historic participation in the Odesur Games; and journalists Julio Alonso and Julio Toyos, received the Quijote Award for their career. Sailor Dominique Knuppel received the Energía Charrúa Award and the Abelardo Raidi Award presented by AIPS America was awarded to Dr. Amadeo Otatti.