Dec.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has been beaten to the sportsman of the year title in Germany’s “Sportlern des Jahres 2009” awards.
In front of 750 guests during the gala in Baden-Baden, the 22-year-old Red Bull driver – who finished the drivers’ championship 11 points behind Jenson Button – lost out to swimmer Paul Biedermann.
At this year’s world championships, 23-year-old Biedermann beat Ian Thorpe’s 2002 world record for the 400m freestyle that had stood since 2002.
He also set a new world record for the 200m event.
Biedermann’s 2009 feats attracted 3,569 votes, compared with Vettel’s 2,034. German discus thrower Robert Harting placed third, 597 votes behind Vettel.