“RONZHEIMER.” has just been awarded the BAMBI 2025 in the “Culture” category. Paul Ronzheimer impressively demonstrates how podcasts as a cultural medium can inspire, inform and unite people.
Running, jumping, throwing, and shot put – Leo Neugebauer is a man of many disciplines. In the decathlon, the supreme discipline of athletics, he has fought his way to the top of the world with impressive performances. With his world championship title in September 2025, he not only achieved a personal milestone, but also brought German athletics back into the spotlight. As an athlete and “sports influencer”, he inspires hundreds of thousands of people to believe in themselves and fight for their goals. He shows that hard work, discipline and passion pay off and that sport can be much more than just competition – it can bring people together and give them hope. Now Hubert Burda Media is putting his sporting achievements and role model status in the spotlight and honouring him with the BAMBI 2025 Award in the Sport category.
"It was a personal highlight for my daughters when Leo Neugebauer ran past us at the Summer Olympics – on his lap of honour, immediately after the 1500-metre race, the last event in the decathlon and the deciding factor in his silver medal. Leo Neugebauer came over, high-fived everyone and took time for selfies. He didn't bury his dream of gold in Paris; it motivated him to continue training hard, to believe in himself and in the title. Leo Neugebauer is a role model for many athletes. For my eldest daughter, herself a track and field athlete, this Leo moment remains with her when she trains for personal bests. Athletes like Leo Neugebauer are role models for us and our children! Congratulations on the world championship title a year later."
Daniel Steil, Managing Director of BurdaForward and member of the BAMBI jury
After years in which the decathlon had hardly featured in the public eye in Germany, Leo Neugebauer has sparked a new enthusiasm for the supreme discipline of athletics with his records, medals and infectious charisma. With his title win at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 2025, the Görlitz native has finally made his mark in the history books. His athletic achievements are impressive: he even set a championship record with his discus throw, laying the foundation for his historic triumph. He also surpassed his personal best by more than five metres in the javelin throw. His versatility and tireless dedication make him one of the most exciting decathletes of our time – and living proof that German athletes are also among the world's best in this traditional discipline. His success is a great boost for German sport and a sign that the supreme discipline of athletics has a bright future.
But Leo Neugebauer is more than just an outstanding athlete. With his open and approachable manner, he has also made a name for himself away from the competition arena. Through social media, he gives his hundreds of thousands of followers a glimpse into his daily training routine and his life as a top athlete. In doing so, he shows that hard work pays off and ambition can move mountains – a message that is particularly important for the younger generation. At a time when social media is often dominated by negative news and hate speech, Leo Neugebauer provides a positive counterpoint. As a “sports influencer,” he inspires people to believe in themselves, pursue their goals and always remain fair and respectful. Leo Neugebauer proves that athletes can be more than just athletes – they can be beacons of hope and ambassadors of positive values in our society.
The BAMBI Awards ceremony will be streamed live from Bavaria Studios on November 13, 2025, at 8:15 p.m. The live broadcast is available free of charge on Prime Video for the first time. All Amazon customers can stream BAMBI without a Prime membership.
Since 1948, BAMBI has honoured personalities who touch Germany, achieve something special, and serve as role models. As a journalistic platform, BAMBI takes responsibility for society and makes the messages of the award winners visible – emotionally, profoundly, and digitally. This year, the award will be presented in more than 12 categories.
For the third time in a row, the BAMBI awards ceremony will take place in Munich, sponsored by the Bavarian State Chancellery. Streaming service Prime Video will once again broadcast the ceremony live as a media partner. As the official entertainment partner, the entertainment platform TikTok will stream the live broadcast from the red carpet. This year's official BAMBI partners are AIGNER, Chopard, Dr. Barbara Sturm, ELASTEN Trink-Kollagen, ELOTRANS reload, IhreApotheken.de, LLOYD, Schwarzkopf, and Yacht-Magazin. The ceremony is also supported by partners ANDECHSER NATUR, Augustiner-Bräu, Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Degussa, EDEKA, ipuro, JUVIA, L'Osteria, Nespresso, Staatl. Fachingen, and Südliche Weinstraße (Pfalz).
