| Olimpia Award | |
|---|---|
 Statue of the "Olimpia de Oro", designed by Mario Chiérico[1] | |
| Awarded for | Excellence in sports |
| Date | December |
| Location | Buenos Aires |
| Country | Argentina |
| Presented by | Association of Sports Journalists of Argentina |
| First award | 1954; 71 years ago (1954) |
| Website | cpd.com.ar/olimpia |
TheOlimpia Awards (Spanish:Premios Olimpia) are Argentine sports awards given annually by theCírculo de Periodistas Deportivos (Association of Sports Journalists) since 1954.[2] AnOlimpia de Plata (Silver Olimpia) is awarded to the outstanding performer in 41 sports.[3]
Among theOlimpia de Plata winners anOlimpia de Oro (Golden Olimpia) is awarded to the most importantsportsperson of the year.[4] Each trophy consists of a statue designed by sculptor Mario Chiérico.[1] Football legendLionel Messi is the all-time record winner with four awards to his name.
The firstOlimpia de Oro was given to the racing car driverJuan Manuel Fangio on 3 December 1954 at theLuna Park stadium inBuenos Aires,[5] and the first woman to receive the award was the tennis playerNorma Baylon in 1962.[6] Other women to win theOlimpia de Oro individually were the tennis playerGabriela Sabatini in 1987 and 1988,[6] the roller skaters Nora Vega in 1995[7] and Andrea Noemí González in 1998,[8] thefield hockey playersCecilia Rognoni in 2002 andLuciana Aymar in 2010, the judokaPaula Pareto in 2015 and the swimmerDelfina Pignatiello in 2017.[9] Thewomen's national field hockey team, known in Argentina asLas Leonas, won the award collectively in 2000, becoming the only team so honored to date.[10]
Lionel Messi is the only person to receive 4.Lionel Messi and the boxerSantos Laciarto receive 3 consecutiveOlimpias de Oro, in 1982, 1983 and 1984, due to his conquering and retaining of the worldflyweight title.[6] The tennis playerGuillermo Vilas also received 3Olimpias de Oro, in 1974, 1975 and 1977[6] andLionel Messi in 2011, 2021 and 2022. The only other people with consecutiveOlimpias de Oro are Gabriela Sabatini[6] and thebasketball playerManu Ginóbili, who won the award by himself in 2003 and shared it in 2004.[11][12] Six others have received 2Olimpias de Oro: thegolferRoberto De Vicenzo in 1967 and 1970,[6] therowerAlberto Demiddi in 1969 and 1971,[6]Diego Maradona in 1979 and 1986,[6] Cecilia Rognoni and Luciana Aymar as a member ofLas Leonas in 2000[13] and separately in 2002[9] and 2010 and the tennis playerJuan Martín del Potro in 2009 and 2016.
TheOlimpia de Oro has only been shared twice in its history: in 2004, whenManu Ginóbili shared the honor with association football playerCarlos Tevez[12] and in 2008, when the award was bestowed on cyclistsJuan Curuchet andWalter Pérez.[14] The onlyOlimpia de Platino (Platinum Olimpia) was awarded at the end of the 20th century to Maradona as "the best sportsperson of the century".[15]
The Olimpia de Plata is awarded to the outstanding performer in each of the following sports:
The following is a list of winners since the Olimpia was first awarded in 1954:[6]
| Year | Winner | Sport | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Juan Manuel Fangio |  Auto racing (Formula One) | Won theFormula One World Championship for the second time. |
| 1955 | Pascual Pérez |  Boxing | Successfully defendedWorldFlyweight title two times in 1955. |
| 1956 | Jorge Bátiz | _pictogram.svg) Cycling | Won silver medal at theUCI Track Cycling World Championships. |
| 1957 | Pedro Dellacha |  Association football | He was captain of theArgentina national team that won the1957Copa América. |
| 1958 | Osvaldo Suárez |  Athletics (long distances) | Won three gold medals at theSouth American Championships in Athletics. |
| 1959 | Luis Federico Thompson | Boxing | Won the WelterweightArgentine title and defeated world championDon Jordan by K.O. for a non-title fight. |
| 1960 | Rodolfo Hossinger |  Gliding | Won theWorld Gliding Championships. |
| 1961 | Luis Nicolao |  Swimming | |
| 1962 | Norma Baylon |  Tennis | Won the Abierto de la República and reached the seventh in the world ranking. |
| 1963 | Juan Carlos Dyrzka | Athletics (400 metres) | Won the gold medal at thePan American Games and at theSouth American Championships in Athletics. |
| 1964 | Carlos Moratorio |  Equestrianism (eventing) | Won the silver medal at the1964 Summer Olympics, the only medal won byArgentina during those games. |
| 1965 | Bernardo Otaño |  Rugby union | CaptainedArgentina during their first African tour and the landmark win of 11–6 against theJunior Springboks. |
| 1966 | Horacio Accavallo | Boxing | Won vacantWBA &WBC WorldFlyweight title. Successfully defended the title 2 times in 1966. |
| 1967 | Roberto De Vicenzo(1) |  Golf | Won theBritish Open, becoming the first Argentine to win amajor championship. |
| 1968 | Nicolino Locche | Boxing | WonWBALight Welterweight title. |
| 1969 | Alberto Demiddi(1) |  Rowing | Won the single scull event at theEuropean Rowing Championships. |
| 1970 | Roberto De Vicenzo(2) | Golf | Won theArgentine Open,Argentine Masters, Ranelagh Open, Old Smuggler Grand Prix; won theBob Jones Award and theWorld Cup (individual). |
| 1971 | Alberto Demiddi(2) | Rowing | Won theDiamond Challenge Sculls at theHenley Royal Regatta, the single scull event at theEuropean Rowing Championships and at thePan American Games. |
| 1972 | Carlos Monzón | Boxing | Successfully defended hisWBA,WBC &The RingMiddleweight titles four times in 1972. |
| 1973 | Horacio Iglesias | Swimming | Won his fifth world title in professional marathon swimming. |
| 1974 | Guillermo Vilas(1) | Tennis | Led theGrand Prix Circuit and won 7 Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments, including theyear end Masters Grand Prix. |
| 1975 | Guillermo Vilas(2) | Tennis | Led theGrand Prix Circuit, won 5 Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments and reached the final of theFrench Open. |
| 1976 | Juan Carlos Harriott |  Polo | Won theArgentine Polo Open Championship for the 17th time, after winning the Triple Crown of Polo in 1972, 1974 and 1975. |
| 1977 | Guillermo Vilas(3) | Tennis | Won theFrench Open,US Open and 14 more Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments. |
| 1978 | Daniel Martinazzo |  Roller hockey (Quad) | LedArgentina on its way to win theRoller Hockey World Cup. |
| 1979 | Diego Maradona(1) | Association football | Captained theArgentina national under-20 football team on its way to win theFIFA World Youth Championship. Namedbest player of the tournament,South American Footballer of the Year andFootballer of the Year of Argentina. |
| 1980 | Sergio Victor Palma | Boxing | WonWBASuper Bantamweight Title and successfully defended it one time in 1980. |
| 1981 | Marcelo Alexandre | Cycling | Won gold at theJuniors Track World Championships. |
| 1982 | Santos Laciar(1) | Boxing | WonWBAFlyweight Title and successfully defended the title two times in 1982. |
| 1983 | Santos Laciar(2) | Boxing | Successfully defended hisWBAFlyweight Title three times in 1983. |
| 1984 | Santos Laciar(3) | Boxing | Successfully defended hisWBAFlyweight Title three times in 1984. |
| 1985 | Hugo Porta | Rugby union | Captained theArgentine team that defeatedFrance forthe first time ever and tied withNew Zealand. Named Best rugby union player of the world byMidi Olympique. |
| 1986 | Diego Maradona(2) | Association football | CaptainedArgentina to win theFIFA World Cup, namedbest player of the tournament, scored the "Goal of the Century", namedFootballer of the Year of Argentina,Onze d'Or,United Press International Athlete of the Year Award andWorld Soccer Awards Player of the Year. |
| 1987 | Gabriela Sabatini(1) | Tennis | Won thePan Pacific Open, theBrighton International and the Buenos Aires Tournament. Reached the final of theWTA Tour Championships and theWomen's Doubles tournament at the French Open. |
| 1988 | Gabriela Sabatini(2) | Tennis | Won theWTA Tour Championships, the silver medal at theSummer Olympics, reached the final of theUS Open, won theItalian Open, theBoca Raton Tournament, theCanadian Open and theWomen's Doubles tournament at the Wimbledon Championships. Was theflag bearer for Argentina at the1988 Summer Olympics. |
| 1989 | Eduardo Romero | Golf | Won theTrophée Lancôme of theEuropean Tour, theArgentine Open and Los Lagartos Grand Prix. |
| 1990 | Pedro Ruben Decima | Boxing | WonWBCSuper bantamweight Champion Title. |
| 1991 | Oscar Ruggeri | Association football | CaptainedArgentina to win their firstCopa America since 1959. NamedSouth American Footballer of the Year andFootballer of the Year of Argentina. |
| 1992 | Diego Degano | Swimming | Won theSanta Fe-Coronda Marathon for the third time. |
| 1993 | Marcelo Milanesio |  Basketball | Won theSouth American Club Championship withAtenas, and the bronze medal at theTournament of the Americas and silver medal at theSouth American Basketball Championship withArgentina. |
| 1994 | Julio César Vásquez | Boxing | Defended theWBAWelterweight Title six times during 1994, including against previously undefeatedWinky Wright. |
| 1995 | Nora Vega |  Roller skating | Won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze medal at the1995 Pan American Games, held inMar del Plata. Vega was the last torch bearer and lit the Pan American Cauldron during theopening ceremony. |
| 1996 | Carlos Espínola |  Windsurfing | Won silver medal at the1996 Summer Olympics.[16] |
| 1997 | José Meolans | Swimming | [17] |
| 1998 | Andrea Noemí González | Roller skating | Won 14 gold medals at theSouth American Games. |
| 1999 | Gonzalo Quesada | Rugby union | Top points scorer at the1999 Rugby World Cup and part of the team that reached the quarter-finalsof a Rugby World Cup for the first time ever.[18] |
| 2000 | Las Leonas |  Field hockey | Won silver medal at theSummer Olympics becoming the first women's team in any sport to win an Olympic medal for Argentina.[10] |
| 2001 | José Cóceres | Golf | Switched toPGA Tour, won theWorldCom Classic - The Heritage of Golf and theNational Car Rental Golf Classic Disney becoming the first Argentine to win on the PGA Tour sinceRoberto De Vicenzo in 1968.[19] |
| 2002 | Cecilia Rognoni | Field hockey | Part of the team that won theWorld Cup for the first time, namedFIH Player of the Year and Player of the Tournament at theChampions Trophy. |
| 2003 | Manu Ginóbili(1) | Basketball | Won theNBA championship becoming the first ever Argentine to do so.[11] |
| 2004 | Manu Ginóbili(2) | Basketball | Both led their respective teams to win gold medals at the2004 Summer Olympics and breaking a streak of 52 years without achieving an Olympic gold medal for any Argentine.[12] |
| Carlos Tevez | Association football[12] | ||
| 2005 | David Nalbandian | Tennis | Won theTennis Masters Cup defeating the two-time defending champion and World No. 1Roger Federer, and became the first Argentine to win theyear-end tournament sinceGuillermo Vilas in 1974. |
| 2006 | Germán Chiaraviglio | Athletics (pole vault) | Won gold at the2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics improving the championship record by 6 cm. Won gold at theSouth American Games, at theIbero-American Championships in Athletics and at theSouth American Championships in Athletics, and bronze at theIAAF World Cup.[20] |
| 2007 | Ángel Cabrera | Golf | WonU.S. Open and became the first Argentine player to win the U.S. Open and the second to win amajor, joiningRoberto De Vicenzo.[21] |
| 2008 | Juan Curuchet | Cycling | Wongold medal at Olympic Men's Madison, one of two gold medal forArgentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics and first ever olympic medal at cycling for any Argentine. Juan Curuchet retired after participating on six Olympic Games. |
| Walter Pérez | Cycling | ||
| 2009 | Juan Martín del Potro(1) | Tennis | WonUS Open defeating the five-time defending championRoger Federer, and became the first Argentine male to win the title sinceGuillermo Vilas in 1977.[22] |
| 2010 | Luciana Aymar | Field hockey | Won theWomen's Hockey World Cup and was named player of the tournament, wonChampions Trophy and was named player of the tournament, won theFIH Player of the Year Award for the 7th time.[23] |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi(1) | Association football | Namedworld player of the year for the third time in a row, wonFIFA Club World Cup,UEFA Champions League,UEFA Super Cup,La Liga,Spanish Supercopa. Named captain ofArgentina national football team.[24] |
| 2012 | Sergio Martínez | Boxing | WBCMiddleweight Champion againstJulio César Chávez Jr, named Boxer of the Year by the WBC.[25] |
| 2013 | Marcos Maidana | Boxing | WBAWelterweight Champion against the previously unbeatenAdrien Broner.[26] |
| 2014 | Adolfo Cambiaso | Polo | As captain ofLa Dolfina Polo Team won the Triple Crown of Polo (Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo,Campeonato Abierto de Hurlingham and Campeonato Abierto del Tortugas), which is considered the highest honor in the polo world, for second year in a row. |
| 2015 | Paula Pareto |  Judo | World Champion at the2015 World Judo Championships.[27] |
| 2016 | Juan Martín del Potro(2) | Tennis | WonStockholm Open, the silver medal at the2016 Summer Olympics, helpedArgentina to winDavis Cup for the first time ever, defeated then world no. 1Novak Djokovic and no. 2Andy Murray. Improved his ranking from 1045° (2016.02.08) to 38° (2016.10.31). Won ATP World Tour Award asComeback Player of the Year.[28] |
| 2017 | Delfina Pignatiello | Swimming | Won two gold and a silver medal at the2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, broke twochampionship records, aSouth American record and threenational records. Won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the2017 South American Youth Games.[29] |
| 2018 | Agustín Canapino | Auto racing | Won a secondTurismo Carretera title.[30] |
| 2019 | Luis Scola | Basketball | Led the team that won the gold medal at the2019 Pan American Games and silver medal at the2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Named member of theFIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team. Became all-time second most points scorer at FIBA Basketball World Cup and player with the most number of tournaments and games played in the tournament's history.[31] |
| 2020 | Diego Schwartzman | Tennis | Reached ATP ranking's 8th position, qualified for theATP Finals for the first time, defeated then world No.2Rafael Nadal and world No.3Dominic Thiem, reached his firstATP Masters 1000 final and firstGrand Slam semi-final. Awarded in 2021 because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[32] |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi(2) | Association football | CaptainedArgentina to win theCopa America for the first time in 28 years. Named best player, top scorer and best passer of the tournament. Received a recordseventh Ballon d'Or, wonPichichi Trophy for the 8th time, won theCopa del Rey for the 7th time.[32] |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi(3) | Association football | CaptainedArgentina to win theFIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Won tournament'sGolden Ball andSilver Boot. Became Argentina's leading scorer in the FIFA World Cup and won a record breaking 5thFIFA World Cup Player of the Match Award and 11th in total. Also won the2022 Finalissima with Argentina and theTrophée des Champions andLigue 1 withPSG.[33] |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi(4) &Belén Casetta | Association football & Athletics (3000 metres steeplechase) | Messi won theLeagues Cup,Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year, hiseighth Ballon d'Or and secondThe Best FIFA Football Award. Casetta won the gold medal at the2023 Pan American Games and broke thePan American record.[34] |
| 2024 | Emiliano Martínez &Franco Colapinto | Association football &Auto racing (Formula One) | Martínez won the2024 Copa América,Yashin Trophy,The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper,IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper, and theCopa América Golden Glove. Colapinto became thefirst Argentine driver to compete in Formula One sinceGastón Mazzacane in2001 and the first Argentine to score points in Formula One sinceCarlos Reutemann at the1982 South African Grand Prix.[35] |
Y sobre el filo de la medianoche, el sobre más esperado tenía el nombre de... David Nalbandian, el tenista cordobés, de 23 años, que se hizo acreedor al Olimpia de Oro, la estatuilla destinada al mejor deportista de la temporada y que entrega, desde 1954, el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos.
Los ganadores de cada una de las 41 ternas recibirán la estatuilla de plata. De esos premiados surgirá el Olimpia de Oro, la distinción más importante de la Fiesta del Deporte, auspiciada por la Municipalidad de Quilmes y La Caja.
Y la noche esperada llegó el 3 de diciembre. Tuvo lugar en un ámbito inmejorable, el Luna Park, y permitió adjudicar el primer Olimpia a un indiscutible: Juan Manuel Fangio.
1962 Norma Baylon (Tenis)
La patinadora marplatense de 34 años no pudo salir del asombro cuando fue coronada la semana última con el Olimpia de Oro por su notable trayectoria.
Con las dos estatuillas en las manos, la patinadora Andrea González fue la gran protagonista de la noche del deporte argentino, al obtener el Olimpia de Oro 1998 en la reunión anual que realiza el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos.
Cecilia Rognoni, integrante del seleccionado femenino de hockey sobre césped que obtuvo el campeonato del mundo en Perth, Australia, fue distinguida anoche con el Olimpia de Oro del Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD), en una ceremonia que se efectuó en el Sheraton Hotel, y que también premió a otros 41 representantes de otras tantas disciplinas con un Olimpia de plata.
El plantel del seleccionado de hockey sobre césped femenino que obtuvo la medalla plateada en los Juegos Olímpicos de Sydney fue distinguido con el Olimpia de Oro por el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD), en una ceremonia que se realizó anoche en el Parque de la Cervecería Quilmes.
Horas después de ser distinguido como el mejor deportista de su país en 2003 -premio Olimpia de Oro-, el escolta argentino, que estuvo 31 minutos en la cancha, aportó tres triples fundamentales y totalizó 16 puntos, al tiempo que también registró cinco asistencias, tres rebotes (dos ofensivos) y tres robos. Ginóbili acertó tres de cinco triples, tres de cinco dobles y uno de dos libres.
El basquetbolista Emanuel Ginóbili y el futbolista Carlos Tevez compartieron la estatuilla de oro en la entrega de los Premios Olimpia.
Estas fueron las dieciséis integrantes del seleccionado, dirigido por Sergio Vigil y su colaborador Gabriel Minadeo: Mariela Antoniska, Soledad García, Magdalena Aicega, María Paz Ferrari, Anabel Gambero, Ayelén Stepnik, Inés Arrondo, Luciana Aymar, Vanina Oneto, Jorgelina Rimoldi, Karina Masotta, Paola Vukojicic, Laura Maiztegui, Mercedes Margalot, María de la Paz Hernández y Cecilia Rognoni.
Los ciclistas Juan Curuchet y Walter Pérez fueron distinguidos esta noche con el premio Olimpia de Oro, que se otorga cada año a la máxima expresión deportiva del año según el criterio del Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos.
Diego Armando Maradona fue consagrado anoche por el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD) como el deportista del siglo y recibió el Olimpia de Platino en la ceremonia realizada en el parque de la Cervecería Quilmes, ante 1200 personas.
El correntino Carlos Espínola, quien consiguió la medalla plateada en los Juegos Olímpicos de Atlanta, en windsurf Clase Mistral, fue premiado con el Olimpia de Oro, estatuilla que anualmente otorga el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos.
El nadador cordobés, de 19 años, se llevó el Olimpia de Oro, la máxima distinción que anoche le fue entregada por el Jefe de Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Fernando de la Rúa, en la tradicional ceremonia de elección y premiación que organiza el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD).
En la misma reunión, Gonzalo Quesada, apertura del equipo de los Pumas que logró el valiosísimo quinto puesto en el Mundial de rugby disputado hace dos meses en Gales, ganó el Olimpia de Oro.
El golfista José Cóceres, ganador de dos torneos del PGA Tour, fue distinguido con el Olimpia de Oro por el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD), en una ceremonia que se realizó anoche en el Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo (Cenard).
El atleta Germán Chiaraviglio se quedó con el Olimpio de Oro, premio que otorga anualmente el Círculo de Periodistas.
El cordobés Angel Cabrera fue galardonado con el Olimpia de Oro al deportista argentino más destacado de 2007, de acuerdo a lo resuelto por la votación de los periodistas de los distintos medios del país.
El dorado, el de oro, el que representa la cumbre de nuestro país en la gran fiesta anual del deporte, ése quedó en manos de Juan Martín del Potro.
El que comenzó gestando la que fue luego su mejor temporada deportiva, en la que llegó a la cima del hockey sobre césped al coronarse campeona mundial con las Leonas en el certamen disputado en Rosario, su ciudad, Luciana Aymar fue distinguida la mejor deportista de la Argentina al obtener el Premio Olimpia de Oro, otorgado por el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos (CPD).
Lionel Messi se adjudicó el Olimpia de Oro, premio que recibe por primera vez en su carrera profesional y que reconoce al deportista más destacado del año en Argentina.
Maravilla, como lo bautizó el mundo del boxeo, ese que hace rato lo ungió como un gran campeón, se quedó con la estatuilla que todos quieren: el Olimpia de Oro, que, seguramente, descansará al lado del cinturón que con sudor y valentía consiguió en Las Vegas.
De aquellos golpes certeros y la lectura de las tarjetas que lo elevaron a la cima del boxeo mundial, en menos de 72 horas, pasó al gratificante reconocimiento de ser considerado "el mejor deportista argentino" de 2013, al recibir el Olimpia de Oro, otorgado por el Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos.
