December is usually a month when we look back to the past months and achievements, so it is ideal month for celebration of sporting successes as well.
German canoe sprinters were in the spotlight at the Brandenburg Sportsperson of the year gala awards. Franziska Weber was named Sportswoman of the year, Sebastian Brendel Sportsman and men’s C4 crew team of the year in Brandenburg.
Following great achievements German canoe sprint athletes had this year at European and World Championships it is no surprise that German Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg wrote that Brandenburg is canoeing land. Eleven members of the Canoe Club Potsdam were in the team for this year’s World Championships in Račice.
Sebastian Brendel, this year’s triple world champion and winner of two gold medals at European Championships in Plovdiv, was named Sportsman of the year in Brandenburg for the year 2017. 29-year-old canoeist was the best also in the years 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Ronald Rauhe finished third in the standings of the awards for the Sportsman of the year.
Franziska Weber received an award for the best Sportswoman of the year during a gala evening in the Potsdam Metropolis Hall. This was her sixth title and it is something none of the athletes coming from Brandenburg has ever achieved. She was vice-World Champion as well as European Champion this year. Tabea Medert was also among the best female athletes of the year, finishing fourth in the standings of Sportswoman of the year.
In the team of the year category it was another celebration for German canoeing. Sebastian Brendel, Jan Vandrey and Stefan Kiraj (all coming from Potsdam canoe club) were the winners of this prestigious award they received for their achievements in men’s C4. Another member of the crew was Conrad Scheibner from Berlin.
This was not the end though. Petra Welke was awarded an award for the Best Junior Coach of the year and Herbert Weiss received an award for his 27 years of volunteer work.
Photos: Nina Jelenc and Deutscher Kanu Verband
Source: European Canoe Association.
