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Berlin (dpa) - Swimming star Franziska van Almsick, Olympic discus champion Robert Harting, nine-time German basketball champion Alba Berlin and BR Volleys manager Kaweh Niroomand were voted among the “best of the best” among Berlin's athletes.
For the first time in the 42-year athlete poll, the athletes who had successfully represented their sport since 1979 were available for selection.
In addition to the Berliners, a jury of experts chose the Berlin sports idols, who were honored in an online show from the Estrel Berlin on Tuesday and which is available at www.champions-berlin.de.
The 42-year-old van Almsick referred the speed skater Claudia Pechstein and the para-athlete Marianne Buggenhagen to the podium places.
Swimming colleague Britta Steffen and the former national hockey player Natascha Keller complete the top five.
"I have Berlin in my heart - and I am all the more proud that I was able to receive this Berlin bear here in Heidelberg," said the world athlete from 1993.
Harting prevailed against polar bear legend Sven Felski and diver Patrick Hausding.
Former boxing professional Sven Ottke and canoeist Marcus Groß follow in the places below half of the podium.
«The award shows that people have not forgotten the performance - athletic and social.
It's practically a lifetime achievement award, ”said Harting of the specially designed Buddy Bear.
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The basketball players from Alba Berlin placed themselves in front of the polar bears and the BR Volleys as well as the Bundesliga soccer team 1. FC Union and the Füchse handball players.
In the coach / manager category, Niroomand left Alba manager Marco Baldi and boxing coach Ulli Wegner, Union coach Urs Fischer and Füchse manager Bob Hanning behind.
Champions Berlin website