Paris 2024 Olympic champion Giovanni De Gennaro was awarded Collare d'Oro by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).
A ceremony was held this week at the Sinopoli Room of the Parco della Musica Auditorium in Rome to celebrate the achievements of athletes who won gold at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Championships and coaches who helped them achieve success.
The ceremony was attended by Italian Canoe Kayak Federation President Luciano Buonfiglio and Secretary General Pamela Venditti, CONI President Giovanni Malago, and Italian Paralympic Committee President Luca Pancalli among other dignitaries.
De Gennaro, who won the K1 title at the Games in France this year, was awarded the Collare d'Oro — the highest sporting accolade given to Italian athletes.
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The 32-year-old had a season to remember, winning the European title and an International Canoe Federation World Cup gold medal.
He also finished second in the overall men's K1 World Cup standings and wrapped up the year by winning the K1 gold medal at the 2024 ICF Hangzhou Super Cup in October.
“It is amazing to get this price and share the stage with all the best Italian sportsmen,” De Gennaro said.
“I’m just proud I could represent our sport in such a great atmosphere.”
London 2012 K1 gold medallist Daniele Molmenti was awarded the Palma d’Oro for technical merit.
Molmenti, a world champion in 2010, is the Technical Director of the Italian Canoe Slalom team and coach of De Gennaro.
Picture by FICK.
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