Tallinn has opened the public vote for “Tallinna aasta sportlased 2025” — cast your vote by 23 November
On 10 November, Tallinn launched a major public vote to determine the “Tallinn Athletes of the Year 2025”. All sports fans—both in the capital and elsewhere in Estonia—are invited to vote for their favourites. The public vote runs until 23 November (inclusive) and is conveniently available on the Tallinn website. Your vote counts: the public's choice makes up a full third of the final result, alongside the votes of the board of Eesti Spordiajakirjanike Selts and the commission of Tallinna Kultuuri- ja Spordiamet. Tallinn
Six categories — who will you vote for?
You can vote in six categories, which put both the stars shining on the world stage and the remarkable achievements of young and para-athletes in the spotlight:
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Male Athlete of the Year
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Female Athlete of the Year
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Young Athlete of the Year
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Para Athlete of the Year
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Team Sports Team of the Year
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Team Ball Sport Athlete of the Year (a new category recognizing individually outstanding ball sport athletes) Tallinn
The new ball sport athlete category has been added to recognize athletes who have top-level seasons in team sports — whether in the domestic league or at foreign clubs — but whose contribution is not reflected in individual medals at championship events. Tallinn
How to vote?
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Open the Tallinn sports website and go to the public voting page.
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Choose your favorite in each category. If you wish, you can vote in just one or several categories — or in all six.
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Do not forget to click the “Submit” button in each category for your vote to count.
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Share the link with friends and invite them to vote too — the more votes there are, the more clearly the results reflect the people's voice. Tallinn
Who is in the spotlight? Some nominees to watch
Female Athlete of the Year:
épée fencers Katrina Lehis and Irina Embrich continue to perform at a high level; swimmer Eneli Jefimova continues to collect medals and deliver record-breaking performances; figure skater Niina Petrõkina has brought Estonia a European championship title and international recognition. Mai Narva (chess) and Astrid Johanna Grents (Muay Thai) have also achieved impressive results. Tallinn
Male Athlete of the Year:
track and field athlete Johannes Erm represents consistency and resilience at major competitions; weightlifter Mart Seim and curling ace Harri Lill are long-standing leaders in their sports; judoka Klen Kristofer Kaljulaid, powerboat racer Stefan Arand and billiards player Denis Grabe add diversity of disciplines to the field. Tallinn
Young Athlete of the Year:
an exciting generational shift is unfolding here — swimmer Eneli Jefimova and figure skater Niina Petrõkina have shone just as brightly in the junior class as among adults, with track and field athlete Allika Inkeri Moser, wrestler Richard Karelson, young skiers and snowboarders, and rising stars from several disciplines close behind them. Tallinn
Para Athlete of the Year:
para swimmers Matz Topkin, Robin Liksor and Susannah Kaul have won medals and set records for Estonia; wheelchair curling advocate Kätlin Riidebach and Keira Rattur (DS swimming) show just how broad-based and inspiring Estonian para sport is. Tallinn
Team Ball Sports Athlete of the Year (new):
both volleyball player Marx Aru and basketball player Mathias Tass stand out; in football, the focus is on Mattias Käit and Vlada Kubassova, in handball on Dener Jaanimaa, and in beach soccer on Sander Lepik — all names that fly the flag for Estonian ball sports. Tallinn
Sports Team of the Year:
the nominees include the BC Kalev/Cramo basketball team, the FC Flora women's and men's teams, HC Panter on the ice, and beach football leaders SK Augur Enemat/Coolbet. Club football, basketball and ice hockey repeatedly draw full houses and generate plenty of excitement. Tallinn
Remember? Last year, Johannes Erm was crowned Tallinn’s Male Athlete of the Year, Eneli Jefimova was named Female and Young Athlete of the Year, Matz Topkin was named Para Athlete of the Year, and BC Kalev/Cramo was named Team of the Year — a standard that this year’s nominees are worthy rivals for. Tallinn
What is at stake?
In addition to the prestigious title, the recognition also comes with a cash prize for both the athletes and their coaches, helping to cover the costs of preparation and the competition season. The Athlete of the Year titles come with prize money, and the Team of the Year can develop the club’s activities with support from Tallinn — this is an investment in the future of both the athletes and the community. (The exact amounts are specified in Tallinn’s official announcement.) Tallinn
With the public vote carrying one-third of the weight, your vote could tip the balance in favor of the winners in one category or another. So every vote truly matters — especially if you have a role model in their field whose story has deeply moved you. Tallinn
Deadlines and the final
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Voting is open: until 23 November 2025 (inclusive).
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The winners will be announced: on 3 December 2025 at a formal awards gala at Kultuurikatel. The gala will sum up the results of the public vote and the decisions of the other two voting groups. Tallinn
Why vote right now?
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This year is special for Tallinn — the European Capital of Sport year brings themed events and a sporting focus to every month, highlighting the role of both recreational and elite sport in the city. The public vote fits naturally into this mosaic: it is an opportunity to recognise those who have delighted us in the stands, on television and at championship events. Tallinna Sport+1
The strength of the capital's sporting community lies in its diversity. One day we celebrate a judoka's technical victory, the next we shiver on the ice as we follow the path of a curling stone, and on the third we cheer on Estonian footballers as they fight on the pitch until the final second. The public vote brings these emotions together and gives us the opportunity to say: “Thank you, you make our city and all of Estonia greater!”
How to make an informed choice?
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Look at the season as a whole. Has the candidate shown consistent performance rather than just one flash of brilliance?
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Consider international significance. European or World Championship results, World Cup series, international titles — these provide a basis for comparison.
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Think about being a role model. Has an athlete or team inspired young people, led community initiatives, or attracted new participants to their sport?
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Don't forget the coaches. Titles are earned in training — also recognise the team around the athlete or squad.
Community matters
Tallinn's sporting story has always been a story of communities: of coaches who open the gym doors early so that young people can take extra shots; of parents who devote hours to volunteer work; and of volunteers who keep everything running smoothly at competitions. The public vote is one way to recognise every one of these links — because every medal and trophy is a shared mosaic of many people's achievements.
Vote — and share with a friend
If you have a favourite athlete or team whose journey has inspired you, take action today. Open the Tallinn sports website, select the categories, click “Submit” and share the link with your friends. This is how a strong sense of unity is created, giving our sporting year a fitting finale. Tallinn
Useful links:
• General information and voting for the Tallinn public vote: tallinn.ee/sport → “Selection of Tallinn's best athletes of 2025”. Tallinn
• Tallinn's official news item on the launch of the public vote (deadlines, weightings, nominees, gala information). Tallinn
• Tallinn as the European Capital of Sport 2025 — background and events. Tallinna Sport
PS. Voting is open to everyone, not just Tallinn residents. Every vote counts — make your choice and help recognize those who inspired us most in 2025! Tallinn