ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The four pair of Italy was awarded as a male crew of the year by World Rowing during a ceremony held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The financiers Luca Chiumento, Luca Rambaldi, Andrea Panizza and Giacomo Gentili, world champions last September 25 in Shanghai and Olympic vices in Paris 2024, write another important page in the history of world rowing. Never, since the establishment of this award in 2002, the International Remiera Federation had chosen an Italian boat. The blue continuity in this specialty was highlighted thanks to the conquest of two bears (Plovdiv 2018 and Shanghai 2025), a silver (Belgium 2023) and two bronzes (Linz 2019, Racice 2022) in the last five World Championships, as well as the Olympic silver. Another important reason is the history of this crew, which began in Bulgaria seven years ago when, as a shipman instead of Chiumento, there was Filippo Mondelli, the rower prematurely disappeared on 29 April 2021 following an osteosarcoma on the left leg. On the podium of every international race, the blue crew carries, in fact, the flag belonged to the unfortunate companion to remember it. The success of the World Rowing Awards is a new milestone achieved by the iridate quartet that has been able to count, throughout 2025, on the continuous support of the Italian Canoeing Federation and Yellow Flames. “We are very happy for this recognition because it crowns our sports and human paths – says Luca Rambaldi – We wish to share this satisfaction with all the Italian movement that, with his affection, has definitely given us a great boost. All the crew put heart, muscles and soul in water to conquer gold in Shanghai. We dedicate this award to those who were there at the beginning, our extraordinary companion Filippo Mondelli, and to President Davide Tizzano, always close to us along the way to the World, to the Yellow Flames and to the whole Federation”. “An immense joy, a very strong emotion because we are the first Italian crew in history to win this world award and it is necessary, therefore, to thank all those who have always believed in us – says Giacomo Gentili – I will forever remember the serenity with which we have faced the Shanghai World Championship, always living the relationship with Canoeing as a source of satisfaction and fun. It is the result of a great team game conducted together by athletes, technicians and managers.” “I want to thank the whole family of the canoeing, all the tits and enthusiasts, for the closeness and appreciation continually demonstrated against our four couple – says Luca Chiumento – It is a great pride for us to share with our families and with whom unfortunately there is no more. It is a starting point for a great 2026 with Europeans at home, on Lake Varese, and the World Championships in Amsterdam.”“The Italian Canoeing community has made us feel strong its support throughout the year and being rewarded today by World Rowing is the crowning of the many efforts made these years – says Andrea Panizza – Thanks to all those who are close to us from the beginning of our career, especially managers and technicians who support us My thought goes, in particular, to our President Davide Tizzano, who in a short time transmitted his vision and his passion to us, and to Filippo Mondelli because a good part of this path bears his name. Ours is a ‘five coup’.” World Rowing’s men’s crew award for our four pair is a further demonstration of the quality of the work done by our athletes in synergy with the technical area and also of renewed international attention towards Canoeingtaliano – concludes Vice President Fabrizio Quaglino – Thought can only go to President Davide Tizzano and Filippo Mondelli, remembered today by World Rowing, because their example is a precious legacy for our movement. I thank the members and their families for being close to our world champion crew: the climate created around the whole National, in 2025, was very positive and certainly represents one of the strengths to face the preparation for the challenges of the next three years.” – photo office Federcanottaggio – (ITALPRESS).
