Leo Neugebauer has been crowned 2025 German Sportsman of the Year across all sports at the German Sports Personality of the Year awards in Baden Baden on Sunday (21) night.
The 25-year-old won the decathlon title at the World Athletics Championships with a score of 8804 points. His winning margin of 20 points was the smallest in championship history.
Neugebauer was crowned winner ahead of long distance swimmer Florian Wellbrock and cyclist Florian Lipowitz while world marathon silver medallist Amanal Petros finished sixth in the voting.
"Thanks to everyone. It takes a lot of people. This will be celebrated properly tonight, and it’s going to be an awesome evening," said Neugebauer.
As part of the ceremony, Neugebauer also received a video message from world 100m and 200m record-holder Usain Bolt who said: "I just wanted to congratulate you on your award. Stay the top athlete you are! I know how hard what you do is."
Neugebauer becomes the first athlete - male or female - to win this accolade since 2022 when Niklas Kaul and Gina Lückenkemper swept the awards following their victories at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
Biathlete Franziska Preuss was named 2025 German Sportswoman of the Year while the German women's 4x100m team that won bronze at the 2025 World Athletics Championships finished third in the Team of the Year category.