Both 2016 Olympic gold medallist Gregorio Paltrinieri and 2016 short course world champion Federica Pellegrini were named Gazetta Sports Award recipients and will receive their awards Friday at an event in Italy.
The Gazetta Sports Awards are for Italian athletes. The winners were voted in by fans in all eight of the categories after they chose three finalists from up to 10 nominees.
Paltrinieri won the Man of the Year award after taking home a gold medal in the 1500m freestyle this past summer in Rio. During the 2015-16 season Paltrinieri also won two gold medals at the European Championships and a silver at the short course world championships this past weekend in Windsor, Ont.
At the 2016 European Championships he bettered his own European record in the 1500m freestyle with a 14:34.04 performance to win gold.
His winning 1500m freestyle from Rio was also nominated for the performance of the year, however that award will be given to Niccolo Campriani who won two golds for Italy in shooting in Rio.
Federica Pellegrini will receive the “Legend” award, a lifetime achievement award for her success in the sport. Pellegrini has had an incredible career thus far, with plenty of international medals including the two golds she won this year, one at the short course world championships and one at the European Championships. Both golds came in her signature event, the 200m freestyle. The Gazette Sports Awards recognized her as the greatest Italian athlete of all time.
Diver Tania Cagnotto was named the Woman of the Year after taking a silver in the 3m synchro and bronze in the 3m springboard in Rio,
Gabrielle Detti, who finished third in both the 400 and 1500m freestyles this past summer in Rio was nominated for the best newcomer award, but was beaten by Gianluigi Donnarumma, an Italian goalkeeper.
To read more about the awards click here.