Canton Bern Honors Top Athletes at Annual Ceremony in Thun
The Canton Bern crowned athlete Ditaji Kambundji and skier Franjo von Allmen as its Sportsperson of the Year honorees for 2026 during a ceremony held on November 2 in Thun, swissinfo.ch reported. Von Allmen, a resident of Boltigen, celebrated the honor at his home alongside other recent accolades, according to bernerzeitung.ch. The annual government awards celebrate local athletes who secured podium finishes at world championships, European championships, and other international elite competitions.
Security Director Philippe Müller (FDP) addressed more than 50 medal winners gathered at the Theater National, praising them as exceptional ambassadors for the region. Müller emphasized that athletic achievement requires relentless dedication, resilience, and strong team support, as reported by be.ch. Government Christoph Neuhaus joined Müller in presenting official certificates to the athletes, while the main category winners also received custom-designed trophies.
Category Winners and Next National Awards
In addition to Kambundji and von Allmen, the Bern government recognized snowboarder Noémie Wiedmer and downhill mountainbiker Raoul Schneeberger in the junior category. The team award went to the women’s ice hockey national team, while the women’s 4×100-meter relay squad—which includes Bernese runner Xenia Buri—claimed the junior team honor, swissinfo.ch noted. In the parasport category, snowboarder Fabrice von Grünigen earned the top title.
AFTER 58 YEARS… HISTORY REWRITTEN.Franjo von Allmen 🇨🇭 claims his third gold of Milano Cortina 2026 and joins the most exclusive club in Olympic skiing. 🥇🥇🥇 Only two men had done it before: Toni Sailer in 1956 and Jean-Claude Killy in 1968.Simply legendary. ⭐️#fisalpine… pic.twitter.com/qyR0z6KYPP
Attention now turns to whether Franjo von Allmen can carry his regional success onto the national stage. bernerzeitung.ch reported that the athlete has strong chances to win at the upcoming national awards on January 3, which would make him the first Bernese winner since Christian Stucki claimed the title in 2019. Meanwhile, local discussions in Thun continue around the recognition awarded to the women’s ice hockey team as the team of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bern Sports Awards
Who won the top regional sportsperson titles for the Canton Bern?
Ditaji Kambundji and Franjo von Allmen won the primary Sportsperson of the Year awards for the Canton Bern, as announced by the regional government on November 2, 2026.
What specific criteria does the Canton Bern use to select honorees?
The canton honors athletes who have earned podium finishes at world championships, European championships, and other international elite sports competitions during the qualifying period.
Who else received awards during the ceremony in Thun?
Junior awards went to snowboarder Noémie Wiedmer and mountainbiker Raoul Schneeberger, while the women’s 4×100-meter relay team took the junior team prize. Additionally, the women’s ice hockey national team won the main team category, and snowboarder Fabrice von Grünigen was honored in parasport.
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