Eight-time Olympic canoe gold medallist Birgit Fischer was second and tennis champion Steffi Graf third in the poll, carried out some four years after most of the rest of the world decided their favourites.

Schumacher, 35, has won the world championship seven times while Fischer, 42, won her eight gold medals for both East German and reunited Germany in Olympics over 24 years dating back to Moscow in 1980.

Graf, 35, won 22 grand slam titles and was ranked number one in the world for a record 186 consecutive weeks. She held the top ranking for a total of 377 weeks -- another record.

"I never would have expected an honour like this," said Schumacher, who won his seventh title this year. "It's a total surprise."

More than 100,000 viewers voted in the contest, which was broadcast on ZDF television. Franz Becken-bauer, World Cup-winning captain and coach for West Germany, was fourth, ahead of three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in fifth.