Elfen-year-old Sophie Küstner becomes the youngest mini golf world champion in Voitsberg

Elfen-year-old Sophie Küstner becomes the youngest mini golf world champion in Voitsberg

Recently, the young mini golfer Sophie Küstner from Voitsberg secured a remarkable title that catapulted her into the history books of sports. Immediately before her family leaked on summer vacation, the 11-year-old won the title of the youngest youth world champion in the mini golf. This extraordinary event took place in an environment that she knows well and offered her valuable support: Christian Gobetz's modern mini golf indoor hall in Voitsberg.

In August, the youth world world championships with 136 participants from eight nations took place in Voitsberg. Sophie, who has been enthusiastic about the mini golf for years, has intensified her training before the competition in order to prepare optimally. She usually trains once a week, but in the weeks before the World Cup she increased her workload to twice a week.

Medalls and emotions

In the team competition, the Austrian girls were already able to win the silver medal, which was a promising start for Küstner. On the crucial day for the single match play, she showed nerve strength and, despite the pressure, was able to triumph against her Swedish opponent Amanda Eriksson. The fact that the competitions took place in their familiar surroundings certainly contributed to the fact that she felt comfortable and could exhaust her full potential.

At the end of the competition, when the award ceremony approached, Sophie was overwhelmed by her victory. The Austrian hymn sounded while the medals were distributed, and the joy of their success was great. This experience is honored by a poster that is now hanging on the garden fence of her family in Voitsberg. "It was totally beautiful and emotional, I couldn't believe it at first," recalls the young athlete, who became the youngest world champion in the history of the mini golf. Her mother, Sarah, can still remember the moment and smiles that everything happened one day before the start of the vacation.

Future challenges

A graduation ceremony was held in the Ratskeller of Bärnbach, in which Sophie proudly presented her gold and silver medal and the challenge cup. This challenge cup must be defended in two years and is currently exhibited in the Voitsberg minigolf hall. Christian Gobetz, the President of the Austrian Association and her trainer, emphasizes that Sophie is considered a figurehead for youth work in the mini golf and that her success is a great motivation for young people.

In addition to the mini golf, Sophie also has a passion for football she lives out at the ASK Voitsberg. She has been training in football since her U-6 time and is currently completing three training sessions a week to keep both physically fit and to strengthen their concentration and endurance for mini golf sports. Her mother describes her as very ambitious who is constantly trying to improve her skills. "There are days when she doesn't want to train, but her will to win is particularly strong before competitions," said Sarah Küstner.

As a new world champion, Sophie already has her next competition in view: From October 25th to 27th, she will compete at the youth cup in Voitsberg, which serves as preparation for the Austrian State Championship in July 2025. Here she has the opportunity to continue to defend her title after she was awarded a student state champion last year. It remains exciting how her career will develop and whether she can shine again in the coming year.

For more information about Sophie's story, See the article at www.meinbeinbezirk.at.