In a recent event at the Estonian National Museum, judoka Emma-Melis Aktas was awarded the title of Female Athlete of the Year, and swimmer Kregor Zirk was named Male Athlete of the Year for Tartu as part of a sports appreciation ceremony. This celebration recognized athletes in seven different categories for their contributions to sports over the past year, with each laureate receiving a monetary award of 2,500 euros alongside the honor.

Emma-Melis Aktas was highlighted for her impressive performance, achieving fifth place at the Judo World Championships and third at the U-21 European Championships, marking significant progress in her athletic career. Meanwhile, Kregor Zirk's accolades include a fourth-place finish at the Short Course Swimming European Championships and contributing to a relay team that set a new Estonian record, placing eighth.

The ceremony did not only spotlight these two athletes, as several young athletes were acknowledged, including powerlifter Eliise Mikomägi and judoka Jakob Vares. Additionally, coach Peep Päll was honored as Coach of the Year for his leadership in powerlifting, underlining the growing talent and achievements within Tartu's sports community.