Semmieke Rothenberger appointed Longines FEI Rising Star for the second time
Award
12/14/2020
As the FEI’s Top Partner, Longines is proud to take part in the FEI Awards and to present one of the five categories, namely the Longines Rising Star Award. With the Gala cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the winners were revealed online in a moving video narrated by British Paralympic champion Natasha Baker.
The Awards celebrate, since 2009, people and organizations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sports. In this context, Longines is delighted to lend its name to the Longines Rising Star Award, which rewards athletes between the ages of 14 and 21 demonstrating remarkable equestrian sporting talent. The Swiss watchmaking brand has always had at heart to encourage youngsters to practice sports and to surpass themselves. This Award was claimed by German Dressage rider Semmieke Rothenberger for the second year in a row.
Longines Ambassador of Elegance Sönke Rothenberger’s sister was overcome with emotion when her family held a surprise presentation of the award at their home in Germany.
“I’m very grateful that so many people voted for me and that there is such a big fan base of people that support me,” Semmieke Rothenberger said. “It is also quite surreal because there were so many good athletes in this category, including my brother Sönke, so I didn’t really expect that I would win it again.”
Along with Eventing legend Ingrid Klimke (Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete), Carmen Thiemann (Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award), Angelika Trabert (FEI Against All Odds Award) and the Ebony Horse Club (FEI Solidarity Award), Semmieke received an elegant Longines timepiece to celebrate her win.
“We are delighted to once again celebrate Semmieke Rothenberger’s dedication to equestrian sport and we applaud her determination, passion and energy, which we are confident will take her to the very top in her sporting career” commented Matthieu Baumgartner, Longines Vice President Marketing.
Link to the 2020 FEI Awards Ceremony video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcTSjL7bx2E