German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) and German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (L) pose with Germany's kayaker Max Rendschmidt during a ceremony to award German Olympic and Paralympic medal winners with the "Silver Laurel Leaf" on November 4, 2024 in Berlin. The "Silver Laurel Leaf" is the highest state award for sporting excellence in Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)