The 32nd “Ligurian Athlete of the Year” award ceremony, organized by the Liguria Region following the guidance of the Regional Sports Committee, celebrated the achievements of Ligurian athletes. Among the honorees were swimmer Francesco Bocciardo, gymnast Alice d’Amato, and volleyball player Ilaria Spirito. These athletes have excelled both nationally and internationally and were recognized in the Transparency Hall of the Liguria Region.
Simona Ferro, the Sports assessor for the Liguria Region, remarked: “The 2024 edition of the award allows us to highlight once again the remarkable success of the Ligurian contingent at the Paris Olympics. Winning three Olympic and Paralympic gold medals is no accident but rather the result of the hard work of athletes, coaches, and clubs. Francesco, Alice, and Ilaria are role models for thousands of young Ligurians and help institutions promote all the values that sport embodies. Their achievements only reinforce the strong sporting tradition of our region, which will be further celebrated in 2025 when we will be the European Region of Sport.”
Alice d’Amato, previously awarded in 2020 alongside her twin sister Asia, has gained significant acclaim for her historic gold in women’s artistic gymnastics. Having honed her skills at SG Andrea Doria and being part of the Fiamme Oro team, Alice emerged as the Olympic champion on the balance beam and secured silver in the all-around competition. She stands among the few gymnasts, alongside Nastia Liukin, Simone Biles, and Rebeca Andrade, to participate in five Olympic finals since the introduction of the new Scoring Code.
Francesco Bocciardo, a member of Fiamme Oro and Nuotatori Genovesi, celebrated his fourth Paralympic gold in the 200m freestyle at Paris 2024. He made history as the first Italian swimmer to clinch gold in three consecutive Paralympic Games.
Ilaria Spirito played a pivotal role in the triumph of the women’s national volleyball team, securing a historic gold while playing as a libero for Chieri ’76.
The Sports assessor of the Municipality of Genoa, Alessandra Bianchi, highlighted: “This past year has been truly remarkable for sports, particularly in our city, and I am thrilled that for 2024, the “Ligurian Athlete of the Year” award recognizes many Genoese athletes. Francesco Bocciardo and Alice D’Amato, ambassadors of our Genova 2024 European Capital of Sport initiative, along with Ilaria Spirito, are not only outstanding champions who have achieved extraordinary results but also genuine role models for countless young people.”
Special mentions were given to tennis player Lorenzo Musetti for his bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, fencer Filippo Armaleo for the Under 23 European title, cyclist Lorenzo Mark Finn for the Junior World title, rower Silvia Tripi for her silver at the Beach Sprint World Championships, rower Davide Mumolo for his silver at the Coastal Rowing World Championships, equestrian Francesca Salvade’ for her fourth place at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, and volleyball player Luca Porro for his fourth place at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Also in attendance were students from Pacinotti Institute of La Spezia and Parentucelli Institute of Sarzana.
