Triathlon: 3.000 sports journalists have voted - triathlete and Ironman Hawaii winner Jan Frodeno is Germany's athlete of the year. With 2491 points, the 34-year-old from Cologne narrowly beat ski jumper Severin Freund (2352 points). Frodeno is the first triathlete ever to be named Sportsman of the Year.
What a year for Jan Frodeno - sensational triumph at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, followed by the Sport-Bambi award and yesterday he crowned his success with the Sportsman of the Year award. The Canyon athlete was honored at a gala in the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden in front of more than 700 guests from the world of sport and politics.
One last fist pump to send off 2015! Been a great year - thanks for all the support, encouragement and good times! pic.twitter.com/AOv1TB0WpZ
- Jan Frodeno (@janfrodeno) December 21, 2015
Frodeno was the first triathlete ever to raise the prize, which was first awarded in 1947, after beating ski jumper Severin Freund by a hair's breadth. "Right now I'm more at the heart rate during competition than at rest," joked the Rhinelander in his acceptance speech. In any case, it is a more than successful, worthy and extremely deserved end of the year for the triathlon ace.
In the women's category, shot putter Christina Schwanitz won, and the Nordic Combined team succeeded the German national soccer team as Team of the Year.