Bobsleigh and Luge Sport Club Winterberg President Alois Schnorbus ©International Luge Federation

German Olympic bobsleigh star Alois Schnorbus has been awarded the badge of honour in Sport by the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW).

Schnorbus, 67, received the award with the highest distinction for Sports in Düsseldorf, capital of the NRW region.

The long-serving Bobsleigh and Luge Sport Club Winterberg President competed for West Germany at the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid in New York.

Schnorbus was part of the nation's four-man bobsleigh team which finished 10th after four runs.

Teams from East Germany claimed gold and bronze at Lake Placid.

East Germany also won silver and bronze in the two-man bobsleigh event, won by Switzerland.

Ingrid Klimke won team eventing gold at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Ingrid Klimke won team eventing gold at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Also honoured in the awards were multiple Olympic, world and European equestrian champion Ingrid Klimke and handball legend Heiner Brand.

Klimke claimed team eventing gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics, as well as silver at Rio 2016.

Brand is a handball world champion as both player and coach for Germany.