The Piedmont Region, the Piedmont Regional Council, the City of Turin, Coni and the Italian Paralympic Committee awarded the 43 Piedmontese athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Games during a ceremony held this afternoon at Casa Tennis, the geodesic dome that hosts meetings and talk organized on the occasion of the Nitto ATP Finals Tournament in Piazza Castello.
The awards were presented by the President of the Piedmont Region Alberto Cirio, the President of the Piedmont Regional Council Davide Nicco, the Mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo, the Sports Councilors of the Piedmont Region and the City of Turin Marina Chiarelli and Domenico Carretta,
Each athlete was given a plaque with the serigraphy “The Allegory of Piedmont” by the artist Ugo Nespolo with the signatures of the presidents Cirio and Nicco and the mayor Lo Russo, a flag of Piedmont, a pen of the City of Turin and 2 pin of the Piedmont Region and the City of Turin.
The Piedmontese athletes awarded in order of discipline:
Athletics – Pietro Arese (Turin) 1500 meters (8th); Riccardo Bagaini (Orta San Giulio – No) 400 meters; Marco Cicchetti 100 meters (8th) and long jump (8th); Monica Contrafatto 100 meters (Bronze); Linda Olivieri (Turin) 400 meters hurdles; Daisy Osakue (Turin) disc (8th); Alessandro Ossola (Grugliasco) 100 meters; Stefano Sottile (Vercelli) high jump (4th).
Canoe – Veronica Silvia Biglia (Gabiano – AL) VL2 women’s 200 meters (6th); Gabriele Casadei (Ivrea) 500 meters (Silver); Carlo Tacchini (Verbania) C2 500 meters (Silver) canoe C1 1000 meters (5th).
Boating – Veronica Bumbaca (Turin) women’s eight (6th).
Cycling – Simone Avondetto (Moncalieri) cross country; Elisa Balsamo (Cuneo) team pursuit; Lorenzo Bernard (Novalesa – To) e David Plebani his athlete leads pursuit 4000 meters (Bronze); Martina Berta (Torino) cross country; Filippo Ganna (Verbania) time trial (Silver) and team pursuit (Bronze); Elisa Longo Borghini (Verbania) time trial (8th) road race (9th).
Equitation – Carola Semperboni (Beinasco – To) team (4th), freestyle (6th), individual (7th).
Judo – Andrea Carlino (Turin) mixed teams (4th); Manuel Lombardo (Turin) individual, mixed teams (4th); Matteo Piras (Turin) individual, mixed teams (4th).
I swim – Sara Curtis (Cuneo) 50 meters freestyle (7th), 4×100 freestyle relay (8th); Carlotta Gilli (Moncalieri – To) 100 butterfly (Gold), 200 medley (Gold), 400 freestyle (Silver), 50 freestyle (Bronze) and 100 backstroke (Bronze); Emma Menicucci (Moncalieri – To) 4×100 freestyle (8th); Alessandro Miressi (Turin) 4×100 freestyle (Bronze), 100 freestyle; Ludovico Viberti (Turin) 100 breaststroke.
Pentathlon – Giorgio Malan (Turin) modern pentathlon (Bronze); Alice Sotero (Up to) pentathlon moderno.
Rhythmic – Alessia Maurelli (Rivoli) team final (Bronze).
Fencing – Andrea Mogos (Turin) team foil (Bronze).
Tennis – Andrea Vavassori (Pinerolo) single, double, mixed double.
Target shooting – Edoardo Bonazzi (Alessandria) 50 meter rifle; Roberto Lazzaro (Cameri – No) R4 carbine (6th) R5 carbine (8th).
Archery – Matteo Bonacina (Rivalta Torino) team (4th) and individual; Elisabetta Mijno (Rivalta Torino) team (Gold), individual (Bronze); Alessandro Paoli (Turin) individual and team.
Flight Shooting – Giovanni Pellielo (Vercelli) Olympic pit.
Volley – Carlotta Cambi (Oro); Marina Lubian (Oro); Loveth Omoruyi (Oro); Ilaria Spirito (Oro).
Wrestling – Aurora Russo (Turin) free wrestling 57 kg.
“Today Turin and Piedmont are under the eyes of the world and of international sport and for this reason we have decided to take advantage of this opportunity to thank the athletes who carried our flag at the Paris Games in August and to reward them here, at Casa Tennis. Many athletes who have made Italian sport great and who remind us every day of the values of passion, commitment and inclusion”. Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region
“Today we celebrate all our Piedmontese athletes, protagonists of the recent Paris 2024 Olympics, an occasion in which they demonstrated their talent, dedication and spirit of sacrifice to the whole world. Our most sincere thanks go to them for having brought into the name of Piedmont is high and for having become exceptional testimonials of the truest, healthiest and most inclusive sport. These athletes represent the best of our territory, they inspire the young generations by example and promote sport as a decisive value in the growth of every single individual. Commitment and results make them models to follow. Sport is a powerful tool for learning to overcome any difficulty, to build champions, but also good citizens and good people prestigious event such as the ATP Finals: Turin and Piedmont confirm themselves once again as the cradle of talents and promoters of those values that make sport an indispensable pillar for the well-being and unity of our cities. All of them are one of our most beautiful prides.” Davide Nicco, President of the Piedmont Regional Council
“For our city it is a year dedicated to great sport at an international level and the athletes who are here with us today are the image of this. Achieving an Olympic medal is one of the highest goals in sport, the culmination of a journey that involves passion and talent, and allows you to become an even greater symbol of the great values that distinguish the Olympics and Paralympics. The male and female athletes we reward are a source of pride for our territory and have the responsibility of carrying forward, through sport, its values, spreading them and reiterating their importance, especially to younger people.” Stefano Lo Russo mayor of the Metropolitan City and of the City of Turin
“These champions belong to everyone, we must be proud of them both because they wear the colors of the nation and because, when they get on the podium or fight in competition with their opponents, they become a symbol, especially for the younger ones who can draw from their teaching inspiration. Athletes are the real superheroes of today who deservedly take the spotlight after sacrifices and hard work. By example they invite us to continue fighting in the face of adversity. We are really happy to have them here with us.” Marina Chiarelli, Councilor for Sport of the Piedmont Region
“Turin has always demonstrated its ability to express the best of sport, cultivating talents in different disciplines and fueling a collective passion that unites us. Today’s awards ceremony is a recognition of our male and female athletes and a celebration of the sporting spirit that animates our city. It is a moment that reminds us how fundamental sacrifice, dedication and commitment are, but it is also an opportunity to thank all those who, in various capacities, support the world of sport: the federations, the coaches, the families and the coaches, whose tireless work is fundamental to the success of our athletes. My invitation is to continue to support and encourage them as the City will do, because behind every goal there is a story of commitment and passion to share”. Domenico Carretta, Councilor for Sport of the City of Turin
“The Piedmontese Olympic and Paralympic athletes of Paris 2024 are the sporting excellence of our territory. They are an example of fairness, respect for opponents, loyal and generous behaviour, healthy and fair competition, commitment and dedication; they made us dream with unforgettable emotions and remind us that a dream can be conceived, built and realized with work and daily perseverance. They are our champions, our pride and they are the example for all of us and for future generations. They are the Role Models that we want to offer to our companies. Thanks to them, each of us is richer, not in money, but in talents, in humanity, in values, in true vital essence.” Stefano Mossino, President CONI PIEDMONT Regional Committee
“As the Paralympic Committee I am very happy that the Piedmont Region wanted to hold this ceremony to celebrate together the Piedmontese athletes who went to the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. On the other hand, it is not the first time that this choice has been made, precisely to underline that there is only one sport and it makes no differences. As happens after every Paralympic Games, these athletes become a role model for many young people with disabilities who may have never played sports, but who, seeing their successes on TV, want to approach Paralympic disciplines for the first time. A huge thank you therefore goes to these athletes who keep the name of Piedmont high in the world.” Silvia Bruno, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee
