January, 2004 - Nr. 1
Ullrich, Stockbauer
athletes of the year
TWIG - Cyclist Jan Ullrich and swimmer Hanna Stockbauer have been named German athletes of the year by the country’s sport journalists.
Ullrich beat out record-breaking Formula One champion Michael Schumacher and Dirk Nowitzki of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks to take the men’s title, while Stockbauer finished ahead of speed skating world champion Anni Friesinger.
Ullrich was honored for his comeback at the Tour de France. After over a year on the sidelines, the 30-year-old, who won cycling’s showcase competition in 1997, finished a close second to American Lance Armstong.
Stockbauer, who collected three gold medals from the world swimming championships in July in Barcelona, won the women’s vote in the poll of 3,000 sports journalists.
The awards were given during a ceremony attended by selected
guests in the southern city of Baden-Baden and watched by millions on
television.
Republished with permission from "The Week in Germany"
