23 Nov 2012 15:56

Felix Baumgartner holds BAMBI // photo credit: Hubert Burda Media

Felix Baumgartner with Col. Joe Kittinger // photo credit: Hubert Burda Media

Felix Baumgartner on the red carpet for the BAMBI Awards // photo credit: Hubert Burda Media

Felix Baumgartner gets a BAMBI - that is the BAMBI 2012 Award in the Millennium category for his supersonic accomplishment. This is a big deal considering past recipients of BAMBI awards include Muhammad Ali (2003), Sir Paul McCartney (1986), Gregory Peck (1953), Dr. Nelson Mandela (2004), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1996), Tom Cruise (2007), and former Pres. Bill Clinton (2005) just to name a few. Watch an interview with Felix on the red carpet here.   

According to Hubert Burda Media, the award winners are chosen by a BAMBI jury consisting of chief editors from Hubert Burda Media and external experts from a variety of different areas of society. The BAMBI Jury explained its decision to give this award to Felix: “No other person has ever jumped from this height, descended such a long distance in free fall or reached such a speed in free fall: Felix Baumgartner made what seemed to be impossible possible when he travelled through the stratosphere and back down to earth with his parachute. By completing this jump from a height of 39 kilometres, the extreme athlete has proven what a person can achieve when they push their limits and fascinated the world with his unique achievement. By achieving this feat, which involved many years of preparation, Baumgartner not only broke three records but also created a global media event that fascinated all generations on a scale that has not been seen since the moon landing in the 1960s.”

The 64th BAMBI Award Ceremony took place at the Congress Centre in Düsseldorf, Germany November 22nd with a live broadcast on the German channel “Das Erste”.

Tags: Felix Baumgartner, Red Bull Stratos, BAMBI awards