Lower Austria's athlete of the year: triumph of Bontus and Hudson!

Lower Austria's athlete of the year: triumph of Bontus and Hudson!

The best athletes of the year were awarded in a festive atmosphere at the weekend at the Lottery Sports Aid Gala. The evening was particularly successful for the team from Lower Austria: Kitesurfer Valentin Bontus was named athlete of the year, while javelin thrower Victoria Hudson received this award in the women's category. This is the 27th award of the coveted "Niki" trophy and the joy of the success of the two athletes was noticeable in the Vienna Stadthalle, where around 1,300 guests were present.

The state sports officer Udo Landbauer praised the outstanding achievements of Hudson and Bontus: "The awards for Austria's athletes of the year are absolutely deserved!" This not only emphasizes your individual successes, but also the role model function that you take for the younger generation. In addition, the evening showed how much the Lower Austria region is proud of its athletes.

impressive achievements of the athletes

Both athletes have achieved remarkable success this year, which more than justify their nominations. Valentin Bontus, who comes from Perchtoldsdorf, caused a sensation at the Olympic Games in Paris a few months ago by winning the gold medal in the newly introduced Formula Kite discipline. In addition, at the World Cup in Hyères, France, he secured a bronze medal, which secured a permanent place in the history of kitesurfing.

Victoria Hudson, on the other hand, triumphed at the European Championships in Rome and Austria has given the first gold medal in the open-air European Championship for 53 years. She not only catapulted her record throw of 66.06 meters to the European Championship title, but also secured fourth place in the world's best list. Their performance is considered by many as a remarkable step for Austrian athletics.

The honor at the Sporthilfe Gala is a confirmation of their hard work and their extraordinary talents for both athletes. They show that joint efforts and tireless efforts can be rewarded.

various awards

A total of prices were awarded at the gala in 12 categories. In addition to Bontus and Hudson, other talented athletes from Lower Austria were also able to look back on a nomination. Climbing Jessica Pilz as well as the athletes Veronika and Johannes Aigner also reached the top 3 of their categories. Climbing trainer Kilian Fischhuber was awarded the trainer of the year.

A special highlight was the special award, which was awarded to Dominic Thiem for his life's work in tennis. Thiem, who was already athlete of the year in 2020, plans to stop his career at an ATP tournament in the Vienna Stadthalle shortly. This honor not only underlines his extraordinary achievements on the tennis court, but also his influence on the Austrian sport as a whole.

Another winner of the evening was the wheelchair tennis player Nico Langmann, who was awarded for his commitment to make it easier for children with disabilities to access sport. His initiative shows how important it is to assume social responsibility in sport and help others.

The excellent performance of the athletes from Lower Austria at this gala contribute to the positive perception of sport in the region and encourage both the active and the audience to continue to pursue their dreams and to believe in themselves. For more information about this event and the excellent athletes, a report www.meinbezirk.at to be found.