Mathilde Gremaud & Franjo von Allmen named Athletes of the Year at fourth edition of the Swiss-Ski Night

The fourth edition of the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise celebrated the successful 2025/26 season in a festive setting and brought the Swiss snow sports family together in Zurich.

Chosen by a jury of experts, with input from fans, and brought into the spotlight by the Swiss-Ski family: the winners of the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise 2026 have now been announced. Eight awards were presented in a festive ceremony on Tuesday evening in Hall 622 in Zurich.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Swiss-Ski Awards to outstanding personalities of the past winter. Mathilde Gremaud and Franjo von Allmen were honored in the main categories.

Hall 622 in Zurich-Oerlikon became the meeting place for the Swiss snow sports family on Tuesday evening, May 12, 2026. Around 930 guests accepted the invitation to the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise – the snow sports gala of the year. The event was dedicated to appreciation, personal exchange, and a shared reflection on an exceptional season. The focus was on the athletes whose achievements shaped the 2025/26 season – accompanied by representatives from sports and business, as well as leading figures from the federation.

Under the motto " Glow for Snow ," the stage became a platform for outstanding achievements. A total of eight awards were presented across five categories – from top athletes and up-and-coming talents to dedicated individuals working behind the scenes. The title of "Female Athlete of the Year" went to Mathilde Gremaud, the Olympic slopestyle champion. "Male Athlete of the Year" was Franjo von Allmen, who won gold in the downhill, super-G, and team combined (with Tanguy Nef) at the Winter Games.While Mathilde Gremaud and Franjo von Allmen won the "Athlete of the Year" award for the first time, six other individuals were also recognized for their outstanding achievements in various categories. A particularly special moment came with the presentation of the "Outstanding Achievement Award" to Karl Frehsner. The award honored his pivotal role in ski racing: he has been working for Swiss-Ski since the 1980s and has been a key figure in shaping Swiss ski racing for decades.

The following overview shows who was able to receive one of the coveted awards that evening in Hall 622 in Zurich. 

Athlete of the Year: Mathilde Gremaud, Freeski Presented by Helvetia . Mathilde Gremaud has once again confirmed her exceptional status in freeskiing. Following her Olympic gold in Beijing (CHN) 2022, she set another milestone with her second Olympic victory in slopestyle in Livigno (ITA) in 2026, underlining her consistent world-class performance. Her season was further enhanced by a World Cup victory in Stubai (AUT) in 2025. With her creativity, precision, and dynamic skiing style, she continues to be among the absolute elite in international freeskiing. For her achievements, she was honored as "Athlete of the Year 2026" at the Swiss-Ski Night.

Athlete of the Year: Franjo von Allmen, Alpine Skiing. Presented by Sunrise 

Franjo von Allmen achieved something historic this season. He became the first Swiss winter sports athlete to win three gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy – in the downhill, the Super-G, and the team combined. He also impressed in the 2025/26 World Cup season with two victories, five additional podium finishes, and second place in the downhill standings. For these outstanding achievements, Franjo von Allmen was honored as "Athlete of the Year 2026" at the Sunrise Swiss-Ski Night.

Alpine Rookie of the Year: Dania Allenbach, Alpine Skiing Presented by Raiffeisen   

"Alpine Rookie of the Year" – this year's award goes to Dania Allenbach. The alpine skier impressed in the European Cup, achieving a victory and three further podium finishes in the 2025/26 season. Dania Allenbach also made a statement with her bronze medal in the team event at the Junior World Championships in Narvik, Norway. Furthermore, she scored her first World Cup points in her very first World Cup race. This promising development earned Dania Allenbach the title of "Alpine Rookie of the Year" at the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise.

Nordic Rookie of the Year: Roman Alder, Cross-Country Skiing Presented by Raiffeisen   

At the junior and U23 levels, Roman Alder provided the Swiss highlights of the season in cross-country skiing. His bronze medal in the sprint at the U23 World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, marked his international breakthrough. He also made a strong impression in the World Cup: an 11th place in Lake Placid, USA, and two further top-20 results in the 2025/26 season underscore his consistent development at the highest level. For these impressive performances, Roman Alder was honored as "Nordic Rookie of the Year" at the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise.

Freestyle Rookie of the Year: Noémie Wiedmer, Snowboardcross Presented by Raiffeisen   

In the 2025/26 season, Noémie Wiedmer impressively confirmed her great potential. At the Olympic Games, she delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth and narrowly missing the podium. In the World Cup, she reached the podium with a third-place finish in Erzurum (TUR) in 2026. She also won silver in both the individual and mixed team events at the Junior World Championships in St. Moritz, her home country. With these achievements, Noémie Wiedmer was once again awarded "Freestyle Rookie of the Year" at the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise – as she had been the previous year.

Hidden Hero Award: Franz Heinzer, Group Coach Elite EC Speed ​​Men. Presented by BKW 

Franz Heinzer has been involved with Swiss-Ski as a coach for over 20 years; today, the 1991 Downhill World Champion works as a group coach for the Elite European Cup Speed ​​Men. Heinzer has played a key role in the development of numerous athletes from the European Cup to the World Cup and is a driving force behind the current strength in speed skiing. Franz Heinzer pitches in wherever needed and often stays late at the ski resort during preparations to ensure perfect slope conditions for his athletes. His work is characterized by exceptional passion, great dedication, and a deep commitment to ski racing. A quiet achiever behind the scenes, he has had a lasting impact on Swiss ski racing – a true "hidden hero."

Social Media Award: Nicolas Huber, Snowboard. Presented by Sunrise 

Snowboarder Nicolas Huber, who will be switching to snowboard cross next season, received the "Social Media" award at the Swiss-Ski Night by Sunrise for his authentic and emotional presence on social media. With entertaining posts, he gives his followers valuable insights into his daily life as a competitive athlete and shares personal moments in a natural way. Huber successfully combines humor and emotion, establishing himself as a respected personality. Nicolas Huber – a more than worthy winner of the Social Media Award.

Outstanding Achievement Award: Karl Frehsner

Karl Frehsner was honored with the "Outstanding Achievement Award" for his exceptional and influential career in ski racing. For 17 years as head coach of the men's team, the now 86-year-old shaped an era and led the team to great success. He is the only coach to have achieved a quadruple victory with the Swiss downhill skiers at a World Championship – in 1987 in Crans-Montana. A total of 53 Olympic and World Championship medals have been won by athletes under his guidance. Even after his coaching career, he remained closely connected to Swiss-Ski – including a role where, as he himself says, he took care of "the fabric and cut," meaning the suits. A lifetime achievement that has had a lasting impact on ski racing – a true "Outstanding Achievement."

In addition to the awards ceremony, the evening offered numerous opportunities for networking. Active athletes met legends from past decades, officials from the eleven sports exchanged ideas, and the association's partners were able to contribute to the shared success in a festive setting. Staff from the back office were also present and enjoyed the event. Personal interaction was just as important as the official program. The evening culminated in a lively after-party with DJ Giannex – a perfect end to a night dedicated to Swiss snow sports.