Photo Beat Kohler

Yet another honor for Lindsey Vonn: the three-time overall World Cup winner and many time medalist at major events was presented with the 2011 Preis Herbert in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, on Friday night. The award, presented in honor of the late Herbert Gossweiler who was the long-time chief of Gossweiler Media AG, is given annually to a personality that has greatly promoted the Alps through the media. The award was presented to Vonn at the Grand Hotel Giessbach above Lake Brienz on the occasion of the 11th Giessbach Meeting before some 300 invited guests, customers, partners and friends of Gossweiler Media from the world of politics, business, culture and sport.

Lindsey Vonn is not only the youngest (at 26) recipient of Preis Herbert but also the first female and the first non-European. The Jury found her to have done wonders to promote her sport not only in her home country of the United States of America but also around the world. Thanks to her sponsor Red Bull, the American spends much time in Austria and speaks fluent German which has enabled her to promote the Alps globally through her media presence.

The previous award winners have either been native residents of the Alps who have stood out through their work for their region or have otherwise helped position the mountains into positive light in the public realm. Each annual award is a unique piece of silver created by artist Martin Brunner from Interlaken. In addition the award recipient receives CHF 5000. The jury consisted of seven people: Ursula Gossweiler, widow of Herbert Gossweiler, Peter Hartmeier, Director Corporate Communications UBS Switzerland, Dr. Bjørn Johansson, Executive Search Consultant, Dr. Beat Lauber, Member of Board NZZ Group, Medard Meier, Publicist, Stefan Regez, Editor in Chief of Schweizer Illustrierten, and Chasper Stupan, former Director of Radio Televisiun Rumantsch.

Photo: Red Bull/Florian Klingler

Previous recipients of Preis Herbert

2010: Marc Forster, Hollywood Director

2009: Samih Sawiris, Ski resort developer, entrepreneur

2008: Claude Nobs, founder of Montreux Jazz Festival

2007: Franz Beckenbauer, Football legend

2006: Dr. Hanspeter Danuser, Former Director of Tourism St. Moritz

2005: Willy and Sonya Bogner, Fashion designer and Film Director

2004: Stephan Eicher, Swiss Musician

2003: Reinhold Messner, Mountaineer and Author

2002: Prof. Dr. Klaus Schwab, Founder of World Economic Forum

2001: Bernhard Russi, Former Ski racer, TV Commentator

Previous | Back to the list | Next