For the second successive year, Germany’s reigning world and European long jump champion Malaika Mihambo was named German Sportswoman of the Year at the annual ceremony in Baden-Baden on Sunday (20).
Due to the decimation of the competition schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mihambo did not have the opportunity to add more silverware to her rapidly expanding collection but she put together a limited but impressive series of competitions.
In a brief indoor season, Mihambo sailed out to a world lead and lifetime best of 7.07m at the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin to break into the world all-time top-10.
And jumping off a shortened approach, Mihambo also finished the season as the world outdoor leader with a mark of 7.03m at the Anhalt 2020 in Dessau. Mihambo was the only jumper in the world this year to surpass the seven metre-line.
Commenting on her award, Mihambo said: “That was an exceptional year, so it wasn't to be expected. There were no major, extraordinary competitions in athletics.”
On the men’s side, 2017 world javelin champion Johannes Vetter, who came within one metre of the world record in September with a throw of 97.76m at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzow, finished second in the voting behind ice hockey player Leon Draisaitl.