Michael sSchumacher
He gets the NRW State Prize
Michael Schumacher at the “Day of Legends” in September 2013 in Hamburg.
© imago/Eventpress
Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher is awarded the state prize of his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher (53) receives the State Prize of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. This was announced by the State Chancellery on Tuesday.
“For his outstanding international sporting achievements as a world-class racing driver, in recognition of his exemplary social commitment and for his services to his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia, we are awarding Michael Schumacher the State Prize of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia,” explains Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (46). Decision for the former sports professional, who was always deeply connected to his homeland of Kerpen (NRW).
“A Living Legend”
The Prime Minister continued: “His talent and his irrepressible diligence have made Michael Schumacher an extraordinary racing driver and the hero of millions of fans […] As a person, he never lost his grip on reality and always kept an eye on his fellow human beings. Without it being important to him, this strong character and his sporting successes have made him a living legend. To this day he is one of the outstanding personalities in global sports history and remains a role model for many.”
Wüst particularly emphasizes Schumacher’s commitment to children and people in need: “As a UNESCO special ambassador, Michael Schumacher has campaigned for children in need for many years. He and his family have donated a large part of their private assets to charitable causes, not least for victims of natural disasters such as the flood events in Germany and Central Europe in 2002 and 2013, the tsunami in Asia in 2004 and the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in the summer of 2021.”
The State Prize is the highest award of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is usually awarded once a year at a festive event. Most recently, in 2019, Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer (83) awarded. Due to the pandemic, no awards ceremony took place in 2020 and 2021.
His family accepts the award
The State Prize will be awarded on July 20th at Motorworld Cologne. Wife Corinna Schumacher (53) and their two children Gina (25) and Mick Schumacher (23) accept the award on behalf of their father.
Michael Schumacher’s former Ferrari team boss and long-time FIA President, Jean Todt (76), held the eulogy for the award winner.
Michael Schumacher died in a skiing accident in December 2013. Since then he has been in medical rehabilitation. There is no information about his state of health.