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A red carpet for the stars, a packed hall with hundreds of guests and a lively party until the morning.

Much of what distinguishes the traditional gala for the election of the "Sportsman of the Year" in Baden-Baden is unthinkable in times of the Corona crisis with lockdown and exit restrictions.

Nevertheless, and despite the series of canceled competitions, a vote was taken - at the award ceremony on Sunday evening with almost no guests, a lot was different.

Only the sportswoman of the year remained the same as in 2019: long jumper Malaika Mihambo.

Last year's world champion flew over the seven-meter mark in the hall for the first time at the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin in February and is listed as the only seven-meter jumper in 2020 on the world's best list.

After a forced break due to health problems and the difficult corona situation, she decided in the spring to just jump at a short run and to go easy on the body - she still won the German championship title.

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Second place went to Sophia Popov, who surprisingly became the first German female golfer to win a major tournament.

“It's an incredible story,” she said after her victory at the British Open in August.

“I think that's why I collapsed on the 18th hole.

Simply because it's something I never even dreamed of a week ago. ”While Mihambo received 898 votes, 781 voted for Popov.

A sensation: Sophia Popov holds the trophy in her hands

Source: dpa / golfsupport.nl

Third place went to Emma Hinze (746), who celebrated three titles at the Track Cycling World Championships: in the sprint, in the keirin and in the team sprint.

This makes it one of Germany's greatest gold hopes for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which are postponed to 2021.

Draisaitl crowns an outstanding year

In the men's category, Leon Draisaitl received the award for the first time.

The 24-year-old ice hockey striker stood out in the world's top NHL league and made history: Draisaitl was the first German to be named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

This was also honored in the election: with 1768 votes, his lead over the runner-up was huge.

Leon Draisaitl is making history and has another dream

Now officially a superstar: Leon Draisaitl is the first German to be voted the most valuable player in the NHL.

The Cologne resident can hardly believe his luck.

Next goal for the 24-year-old: The Stanley Cup.

Source: SID

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In the election, Draisaitl prevailed against Johannes Vetter, who threw his spear at 97.76 meters at the beginning of September and thus only just missed the 24-year-old world record of the Czech Jan Zelezny.

This put him in second place in the vote (649 votes).

Third place went to Jan Frodeno (517).

The triathlete and three-time Hawaii champion caused a sensation with his long distance in his own four walls.

The team of the year award went to triple winner FC Bayern Munich (1763), ahead of tennis pros Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies (1126).

The doubles sensationally defended their title at the French Open.

Third place went to the bobsleigh team Francesco Friedrich (839).

Shortly before the pandemic paralyzed world sport, Friedrich won gold in both the two-man and four-man bobsleigh at the home World Cup in Altenberg at the end of February.