NIKI-Awards 2025: These Are the Winners
Also receiving a NIKI as Newcomer of the Year on Wednesday was Lilli Tagger, and the Special Award went to Gerhard Berger, Helmut Marko, and Toto Wolff.
After the ÖSV went empty-handed in the main categories in 2024, Ski Austria made a big sweep this year with two trophies. For the first time since Eva-Maria Brem in 2016, an alpine skier is at the top again, and for the first time since Thomas Morgenstern in 2011, a ski jumper.
NIKI Awards: Tschofenig won ahead of Straka
Tschofenig, the winner of the Four Hills Tournament and the overall Ski Jumping World Cup, received the most support in the vote by the sports journalists' association Sports Media Austria with 916 points, followed by Golf Ryder Cup winner Sepp Straka (729) and Ski World Champion Raphael Haaser (721). "I honestly didn't expect it. Really cool to be able to take this with me," said Tschofenig, overjoyed. "For such a season, which was filled with successes, this is, of course, brilliant."
The now-retired ski racer Venier, this year's Super-G World Champion in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, clearly prevailed with 968 points ahead of Table Tennis European Champion Sofia Polcanova (473) and Skeleton European Champion Janine Flock (434). For Venier, it is the second trophy; she was already Newcomer of the Year in 2017. "Wow, it is the crowning and perfect conclusion. It can't get any better in sports," said Venier. The expectant mother is doing excellently, and she doesn't miss skiing at all.
Second Award for Ice Hockey Sport
For the sport of ice hockey, it is only the second time that an award of this kind has come to its camp. Thomas Vanek was chosen as Sportsman of the Year in 2007. The men's team won in 2025 with 755 points ahead of the synchronized swimmers and world champions Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri (694) as well as the male ski jumpers (550). "It feels incredible," said ÖEHV team coach Roger Bader. "I am very proud of the team, we had a very good development that culminated in the quarter-final qualification." For Dominique Heinrich, who has since ended his career, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals was also "something very special."
With Berger, Marko, and Wolff, three personalities from Formula 1 won the Special Award, which was presented by Niki Lauda's sons Mathias and Lukas. "This award means a lot to me. No matter what happened, privately and away from the racetrack, we had a good relationship," said Marko about his relationship with Lauda. "For me, one of the greatest role models." Mercedes boss Wolff was immortalized in the "Street of Champions" ahead of the gala. "We miss Niki every day, in recent years we have always traveled together and experienced so many emotional moments," Wolff recounted. Berger ennobled Marko and Wolff on stage as "two motorsport giants."
Tagger and Glasner also honored
In disabled sports, Melissa Köck (deaf alpine skiing) and for the third time in a row Thomas Frühwirth (para-cycling/para-triathlon) won, in the Special Olympics Jasmin Heim (alpine skiing) and Alexander Haissl (alpine skiing). Coach personality of the year was Oliver Glasner due to his successes with the English football Premier League club Crystal Palace. In May, the Londoners surprisingly won the prestigious FA Cup. Tennis talent Tagger was named the newcomer of the year. The 17-year-old, who was also awarded the Youth Sports Prize, won the junior title at the French Open in June 2025.
The 17-year-old cyclist Heimo Fugger also received the Youth Sports Prize, endowed with 2,500 euros. Athlete with Heart for special social commitment was Matthias Stelzmüller with "Skate the World," and the most emotional sports moment of the year was the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
(APA/Red)
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