Silbernes Lorbeerblatt



Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf), the highest sports award in Germany, was endowed on 23 June 1950 by the German President Theodor Heuss. It is awarded to athletes and teams of exemplary character that have medalled at Olympic and Paralympic Games, won important international titles like the football World Cup, or placed several times at international championships.

To be honored with Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, an athlete or a team has to be nominated by the president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation to the German President. The request will be reviewed by the agency of the German President and the Federal Ministry of the Interior as this agency is responsible for sport in Germany. The Federal Ministry of the Interior signs the approved application, following article 58 of the 'Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany'.

Individual honourees

 * Fritz Thiedemann, Equestrianism. Honoured 25 June 1950.
 * Inge Pohmann, Tennis. Honoured 25 June 1950.
 * Franz Beckenbauer, Football.
 * Verena Bentele, blind Paralympic biathlete and cross-country skier.
 * Kirsten Bruhn, Paralympic swimmer.
 * Stefanie Graf, Tennis.
 * Fabian Hambüchen, Gymnast.
 * Matthias Steiner, Olympic weight-lifter.
 * Birgit Prinz, Football
 * Jens Weißflog, Ski jumping.
 * Boris Becker, Tennis. Honoured in 1985
 * Boris Becker and Michael Stich, 1992 Doubles Gold Medalists. Honoured 6 October 1992.
 * Bengt Zikarsky, Swimming.
 * Michael Schumacher, at that time, dual World Drivers Champion. Honoured in 1995.
 * Sebastian Vettel, at that time, dual World Drivers Champion. Honoured on 22 February 2012.
 * Dirk Nowitzki, NBA Champion 2011, NBA MVP 2007, NBA Finals MVP 2011, 12× NBA All-Star.
 * Lena Schöneborn, Modern Pentathlon. Honoured in 2008
 * Hans Lenk, rowing.
 * Magdalena Neuner, biathlon.
 * Heinrich Popow, paralympic sprinter. Honoured on 6 November 2012

Teams

 * Deutschlandachter (for winning Olympic Gold in the London2012 olympics)
 * VfB Stuttgart (for the German football championship 1950)
 * Team Telekom (First place at the 1997 Tour de France)
 * TSG Bremerhaven A-Team (formation dance Latin American, World Champion 1977, 1979–1981, 1983–1985, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2007)
 * Braunschweiger TSC A-Team (formation dance Standard, World Champion 1991–1994, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2011)
 * 1. TC Ludwigsburg A-Team (formation dance Standard, World Champion 1985–1990, 1995, 1996, 2007)
 * Germany national football team (European Champion 1972, 1980, 1996 and World Champion 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
 * Germany women's national football team (European Champion 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997 and World Champion 2003, 2007)
 * Germany national handball team (World Champion 2007)
 * Germany national women's wheelchair basketball team (Paralympic silver medallists 2008, Paralympic gold medallists 2012)
 * Pinta yachting team (One Ton Cup and Admiral's Cup in 1994 )