The 2021 Northern Athlete of the Year: Boris Herrmann and the Olympic silver medallists in the running

The vote for Germany's Sportsperson of the Year 2021 was held last weekend - tennis ace Alexander Zverev and the world champions of the German track cycling foursome were honoured for the first time; long jumper Malaika Mihambo was awarded the honour for the third time. These were the results of the online vote by 980 sports journalists. The fact that Boris Herrmann came fifth - just like at his Vendée Globe premiere - demonstrated two things: Herrmann's adventurous solo premiere in the world's toughest single-handed race raised his own profile considerably and increased his profile far beyond the borders of sailing. At the same time, the 40-year-old has also given the sport of sailing as a whole a huge boost, as it is more than rare for sailing athletes to be ranked so highly and recognised in the top five in the German Athlete of the Year awards.

Now it's time to vote for Northern Germany's Sportsperson of the Year. It runs until 10 January at 12 noon. Boris Herrmann is also in the running with a good chance of making the podium. Voting takes place in two categories: "Northern Sportsman of the Year" (athletes compete with and against each other) and "Northern Team of the Year". Sailing is strongly represented in both categories. If you would like to support Boris Herrmann, you can access the online voting form here (please click!). Who the Olympic silver medallists Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke in the vote for "Northern Team of the Year", you can vote here (please click!). The 49er sailors from Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein, whose German Sailing Team is based and trains in Kiel, had heralded one of the best days in German Olympic sailing with their silver medal at the Olympic regatta in the summer, before their 49er team-mates Erik Heil/Thomas Plößel and the young Nacra 17 crew Paul Kohlhoff/Alica Stuhlemmer followed suit with two bronze medals.

"It was a gigantic day for German sailing," said skiff helmsman Erik Heil, summarising the events. With three medals in less than four hours, the DSV Olympic sailors made 3 August 2021 their day in Enoshima and put their sport in the international spotlight. On this "giant day", they couldn't stop celebrating, hugging each other, dancing and partying until the early hours of the morning. The Olympic sailing festival took place where Willy Kuhweide became a sailing legend in 1964 by winning Finn gold. At the end of the year, successful sailors are therefore in the running for the Northern Athlete and Northern Team of the Year.

Another athletes' election with sailing accents was celebrated online today on 21 December. Schleswig-Holstein's sportsmen and women and the team of the year were honoured in the evening. Sailors were also able to celebrate here: Nacra 17 sailors Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer came third behind the THW Kiel handball team and the Holstein Kiel football team. The fact that the two foiling catamaran sailors from the Kieler Yacht-Club were able to outperform such a well-known team as the SG Flensburg-Handwitt handball team also speaks for the significantly increased popularity of sailing. This was also helped by 16-year-old Ole Schweckendiek from Kieler Yacht-Club, who was voted Schleswig-Holstein's "Newcomer of the Year 2021" alongside tennis player Philippa Färbe.