Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Recktenwald, Topf and Germany’s U23 Wheelchair Basketball Team Named 2025 Para Athletes of the Year

A combined expert-plus-public vote recognized a new wave of world champions in their early 20s.

Overview

  • The awards were presented on national television, with the ceremony airing on ZDF’s Aktuelles Sportstudio at 23:00.
  • Biathlete Johanna Recktenwald earned the women’s honor after winning world championship gold in Pokljuka along with three silver medals.
  • Swimmer Josia Topf took the men’s award following two world titles in Singapore plus a silver and a bronze.
  • Germany’s U23 men’s wheelchair basketball team was recognized after winning the world championship in Brazil and becoming the first European side to claim the title twice with a late comeback over Turkey.
  • An expert jury and roughly 12,000 online votes determined the results, and Jule Roß received the newcomer award after setting a German 400m record and winning world bronze.