Who gets the NIKI? YOU vote for the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year!

The profiles of the three nominees:

Stephan Embacher – Ski Jumping

from Hopfgarten im Brixental, born on January 12, 2006

For Stephan Embacher, the 2025/26 season saw a steep ascent: The Tyrolean achieved a breakthrough in the World Cup and, together with Jan Hörl, won Olympic gold in the Super Team event. At the Four Hills Tournament, he finished third overall, and in March, he celebrated his first individual World Cup victory in ski flying in Vikersund. Embacher also set benchmarks in the junior category: In Lillehammer, he became Junior World Champion in the individual event for the third time – a feat no other ski jumper had achieved before him.

Achievements 2025/26

• Olympic Champion in the Super Team event with Jan Hörl

• Silver medal in the team event at the Ski Flying World Championships

• First individual World Cup victory in ski flying in Vikersund

• Two World Cup victories in the team event

• Five further individual podium finishes

• Third overall in the Four Hills Tournament

• Second overall in the Ski Flying World Cup standings

• Sixth in the overall World Cup

• Junior World Champion in the individual event

Luka Mladenovic – Swimming

from Salzburg, born on May 27, 2004

Luka Mladenovic particularly made a name for himself in 2025 and 2026 in breaststroke events. At the U23 European Championships in 2025, the Salzburg native won gold in the 50, 100, and 200-meter breaststroke. A few months later, he secured two bronze medals at the Short Course European Championships in Lublin – including an Austrian record in the 200m breaststroke. In August 2026, he also made it onto the podium in the long course: At the European Championships in Paris, he swam to bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke – also with a new national best time.

Achievements 2025/26

• European Championship bronze 2026 in the 200-meter breaststroke (long course)

• Two bronze medals at the Short Course European Championships 2025 in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke

• Austrian record in the 100-meter breaststroke (short course)

Matěj Švancer – Freeski

from Kaprun, born in Prague on March 26, 2004

Matěj Švancer achieved his biggest success to date in the 2025/26 season: At the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Livigno, the freeski athlete won bronze in Big Air. With spectacular tricks, he became the first Austrian in this sport to win an Olympic medal. He also demonstrated his versatility in the World Cup: He finished third in Big Air in Beijing, and second in Slopestyle in Laax. At the Olympics, he also achieved seventh place in Slopestyle.