From trans women and knee prostheses: sports science prizes awarded

Gerhard Hirschmann (centre) presented the 2025 Sports Science Awards to Marco Höfler, Katharina Brunner, Theresa Pechmann and Marco Lesacher (from left).

Walking better with a prosthesis, successfully getting rid of excess weight, training more effectively, more fairness for trans people in sport: these were the topics addressed by the students at the University of Graz who were awarded the sports science prizes for their Master's theses on 3 December 2025.

Katharina Brunner investigated the extent to which functional electrical stimulation promotes rehabilitation after receiving a knee prosthesis. Her study shows that this therapy reduces pain and stiffness in the joint and makes it easier to stretch.

Marco Höfler analysed various nutritional and training therapies for children and adolescents with obesity. Early intervention and individual diet and exercise plans coupled with behavioural therapy promise the greatest success.

Marco Lesacher collected relevant indicators for sports medicine examinations. He recommends a standard for determining personal endurance performance in order to be able to create more efficient training guidelines in occupational medicine, therapy or competitive sport.

Theresa Pechmann focussed on discrimination against queer people in popular sport. In order to combat this structurally, there needs to be increased awareness raising in schools as well as in the associations.

The prizes are endowed with 500 euros each and are funded by the province of Styria. Every year, the Department of Human Movement Sciences, Sport and Health nominates the best graduates from the four research groups. Gerhard Hirschmann, member of the Provincial Parliament of Styria, presented the awards at the Meerscheinschlössl.

Dagmar Eklaude

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