Zrinka Ljutic, Croatia’s rising Alpine ski star and a dedicated kinesiology student, has been named the 28th recipient of the International Matteo Baumgarten Award, an honor recognizing young athletes who balance academic excellence with elite athletic performance. The award, created in memory of Italian skier Matteo Baumgarten—a promising student-athlete who tragically died in a car crash in October 1995 while studying at Middlebury College in Vermont — continues to serve as one of the most meaningful recognitions in the world of international winter sport. Matteo, born in Valdidentro, Italy, in 1975, had enrolled at Middlebury in 1994 to pursue studies in international economics while continuing his ski career.
The prize, established in 1996 by his parents Giacomo and Paola with support from the International Ski Federation (FIS), has honored athletes who exemplify Baumgarten’s dual devotion to sport and study. Previous recipients include some of the most celebrated names in winter sports, such as Tina Maze (2004), Ilka Stuhec (2012), Ester Ledecká (2016), and Marco Odermatt (2017).
Born in Zagreb in 2004, Ljutic has had a landmark 2024–25 season, earning three World Cup victories and nine podiums and claiming her first Crystal Globe in slalom. Off the slopes, she continues her academic journey in kinesiology in her hometown. Ljutic was selected from 19 candidates representing 11 National Ski Associations. “To be chosen to receive an award like this is truly something special and something that I carry with great pride,” Ljutic said in a message to the Baumgarten family. “It reminds me of the foundation that my family gave me — a deep respect for education, a love for sport, and belief that success only comes with integrity and perseverance.”
Although she was unable to attend the ceremony in person, her parents accepted the award on her behalf. During the evening, held in Bormio at the Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi, several of Matteo’s former teachers gave emotional remarks about his life, legacy, and the enduring significance of the award. “Thank you for letting me be a part of Matteo’s legacy,” Ljutic added. “It is a responsibility that I carry with great pride and with all of my heart.”
Zrinka Ljutic also won the Longines Rising Star Award for the 2024-25 season for the second consecutive year. Mikaela Shiffrin is the only other female athlete to have been awarded the Longines Rising Star more than once, having claimed the title in three consecutive years, 2013, 2014, and 2015. The award is presented annually to the best young female (under 21) and male (under 23) athletes in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, highlighting emerging talents in the sport.
