Olimpia Award


The Olimpia Awards are Argentine sports awards given annually by the Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos since 1954.
An Olimpia de Plata is awarded to the outstanding performer in 41 sports.
Among the Olimpia de Plata winners an Olimpia de Oro is awarded to the most important sportsperson of the year. Each trophy consists of a statue designed by sculptor Mario Chiérico.

History

The first Olimpia de Oro was given to the racing car driver Juan Manuel Fangio on 3 December 1954 at the Luna Park stadium in Buenos Aires, and the first woman to receive the award was the tennis player Norma Baylon in 1962. Other women to win the Olimpia de Oro individually were the tennis player Gabriela Sabatini in 1987 and 1988, the roller skaters Nora Vega in 1995 and Andrea Noemí González in 1998, the field hockey players Cecilia Rognoni in 2002 and Luciana Aymar in 2010, the judoka Paula Pareto in 2015 and the swimmer Delfina Pignatiello in 2017. The women's national field hockey team, known in Argentina as Las Leonas, won the award collectively in 2000, becoming the only team so honored to date.
The boxer Santos Laciar is the only person to receive 3 consecutive Olimpias de Oro, in 1982, 1983 and 1984, due to his conquering and retaining of the world flyweight title. The tennis player Guillermo Vilas also received 3 Olimpias de Oro, in 1974, 1975 and 1977. The only other people with consecutive Olimpias de Oro are Gabriela Sabatini and the basketball player Manu Ginóbili, who won the award by himself in 2003 and shared it in 2004. Six others have received 2 Olimpias de Oro: the golfer Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967 and 1970, the rower Alberto Demiddi in 1969 and 1971, Diego Maradona in 1979 and 1986, Cecilia Rognoni and Luciana Aymar as a member of Las Leonas in 2000 and separately in 2002 and 2010 and the tennis player Juan Martín del Potro in 2009 and 2016.
The Olimpia de Oro has only been shared twice in its history: in 2004, when Manu Ginóbili shared the honor with association football player Carlos Tevez and in 2008, when the award was bestowed on cyclists Juan Curuchet and Walter Pérez. The only Olimpia de Platino was awarded at the end of the 20th century to Maradona as "the best sportsperson of the century".

''Olimpia de Plata'' categories

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:
YearWinnerSportNote
1954Juan Manuel Fangio Auto racing Won the Formula One World Championship for the second time.
1955Pascual Pérez BoxingSuccessfully defended World Flyweight title two times in 1955.
1956Jorge Bátiz CyclingWon silver medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
1957Pedro Dellacha Association footballHe was captain of the Argentina national team that won the 1957 Copa América.
1958Osvaldo Suárez Athletics Won three gold medals at the South American Championships in Athletics.
1959Luis Federico Thompson BoxingWon the Welterweight Argentine title and defeated world champion Don Jordan by K.O. for a non-title fight.
1960Rodolfo Hossinger GlidingWon the World Gliding Championships.
1961Luis Nicolao Swimming-
1962Norma Baylon TennisWon the Abierto de la República and reached the seventh in the world ranking.
1963Juan Carlos Dyrzka Athletics Won the gold medal at the Pan American Games and at the South American Championships in Athletics.
1964Carlos Moratorio Equestrianism Won the silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics, the only medal won by Argentina during those games.
1965Bernardo Otaño Rugby unionCaptained Argentina during their first African tour and the landmark win of 11–6 against the Junior Springboks.
1966Horacio Accavallo BoxingWon vacant WBA & WBC World Flyweight title. Successfully defended the title 2 times in 1966.
1967Roberto De Vicenzo ' GolfWon the British Open, becoming the first Argentine to win a major championship.
1968Nicolino Locche BoxingWon WBA Light Welterweight title.
1969Alberto Demiddi ' RowingWon the single scull event at the European Rowing Championships.
1970Roberto De Vicenzo ' GolfWon the Argentine Open, Argentine Masters, Ranelagh Open, Old Smugler Grand Prix; won the Bob Jones Award and the World Cup.
1971Alberto Demiddi ' RowingWon the Diamond Challenge Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta, the single scull event at the European Rowing Championships and at the Pan American Games.
1972Carlos Monzón BoxingSuccessfully defended his WBA, WBC & The Ring Middleweight titles four times in 1972.
1973Horacio Iglesias SwimmingWon his fifth world title in professional marathon swimming.
1974Guillermo Vilas ' TennisLed the Grand Prix Circuit and won 7 Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments, including the year end Masters Grand Prix.
1975Guillermo Vilas ' TennisLed the Grand Prix Circuit, won 5 Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments and reached the final of the French Open.
1976Juan Carlos Harriott PoloWon the Argentine Polo Open Championship for the 17th time, after winning the Triple Crown of Polo in 1972, 1974 and 1975.
1977Guillermo Vilas ' TennisWon the French Open, US Open and 14 more Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments.
1978Daniel Martinazzo Roller hockey Led Argentina on its way to win the Roller Hockey World Cup.
1979Diego Maradona ' Association footballCaptained the Argentina national under-20 football team on its way to win the FIFA World Youth Championship. Named best player of the tournament, South American Footballer of the Year and Footballer of the Year of Argentina.
1980Sergio Victor Palma BoxingWon WBA Super Bantamweight Title and successfully defended it one time in 1980.
1981Marcelo Alexandre CyclingWon gold at the Juniors Track World Championships.
1982Santos Laciar ' BoxingWon WBA Flyweight Title and successfully defended the title two times in 1982.
1983Santos Laciar ' BoxingSuccessfully defended his WBA Flyweight Title three times in 1983.
1984Santos Laciar ' BoxingSuccessfully defended his WBA Flyweight Title three times in 1984.
1985Hugo Porta Rugby unionCaptained the Argentine team that defeated France for the first time ever and tied with New Zealand. Named Best rugby union player of the world by Midi Olympique.
1986Diego Maradona ' Association footballCaptained Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup, named best player of the tournament, scored the "Goal of the Century", named Footballer of the Year of Argentina, Onze d'Or, United Press International Athlete of the Year Award and World Soccer Awards Player of the Year.
1987Gabriela Sabatini ' TennisWon the Pan Pacific Open, the Brighton International and the Buenos Aires Tournament. Reached the final of the WTA Tour Championships and the Women's Doubles tournament at the French Open.
1988Gabriela Sabatini ' TennisWon the WTA Tour Championships, the silver medal at the Summer Olympics, reached the final of the US Open, won the Italian Open, the Boca Raton Tournament, the Canadian Open and the Women's Doubles tournament at the Wimbledon Championships. Was the flag bearer for Argentina at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
1989Eduardo Romero GolfWon the Trophée Lancôme of the European Tour, the Argentine Open and Los Lagartos Grand Prix.
1990Pedro Ruben Decima BoxingWon WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Title.
1991Oscar Ruggeri Association footballCaptained Argentina to win their first Copa America since 1959. Named South American Footballer of the Year and Footballer of the Year of Argentina.
1992Diego Degano SwimmingWon the Santa Fe-Coronda Marathon for the third time.
1993Marcelo Milanesio BasketballWon the South American Club Championship with Atenas, and the bronze medal at the Tournament of the Americas and silver medal at the South American Basketball Championship with Argentina.
1994Julio César Vásquez BoxingDefended the WBA Welterweight Title six times during 1994, including against previously undefeated Winky Wright.
1995Nora Vega Roller skatingWon two gold medals, a silver and a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games, held in Mar del Plata. Vega was the last torch bearer and lit the Pan American Cauldron during the opening ceremony.
1996Carlos Espínola WindsurfingWon silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
1997José Meolans Swimming
1998Andrea Noemí González Roller skatingWon 14 gold medals at the South American Games.
1999Gonzalo Quesada Rugby unionTop points scorer at the 1999 Rugby World Cup and part of the team that reached the quarter-finals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time ever.
2000Argentina women's national field hockey team Field hockeyWon silver medal at the Summer Olympics becoming the first women's team in any sport to win an Olympic medal for Argentina.
2001José Cóceres GolfSwitched to PGA Tour, won the WorldCom Classic - The Heritage of Golf and the National Car Rental Golf Classic Disney becoming the first Argentine to win on the PGA Tour since Roberto De Vicenzo in 1968.
2002Cecilia Rognoni Field hockeyPart of the team that won the World Cup for the first time, named FIH Player of the Year and Player of the Tournament at the Champions Trophy.
2003Manu Ginóbili ' BasketballWon the NBA championship becoming the first ever Argentine to do so.
2004Manu Ginóbili ' BasketballBoth led their respective teams to win gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics and breaking a streak of 52 years without achieving an Olympic gold medal for any Argentine.
2004Carlos Tevez Association footballBoth led their respective teams to win gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics and breaking a streak of 52 years without achieving an Olympic gold medal for any Argentine.
2005David Nalbandian TennisWon the Tennis Masters Cup defeating the two-time defending champion and World No. 1 Roger Federer, and became the first Argentine to win the year-end tournament since Guillermo Vilas in 1974.
2006Germán Chiaraviglio Athletics Won gold at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics improving the championship record by 6 cm. Won gold at the South American Games, at the Ibero-American Championships in Athletics and at the South American Championships in Athletics, and bronze at the IAAF World Cup.
2007Ángel Cabrera GolfWon U.S. Open and became the first Argentine player to win the U.S. Open and the second to win a major, joining Roberto De Vicenzo.
2008Juan Curuchet CyclingWon gold medal at Olympic Men's Madison, one of two gold medal for Argentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics and first ever olympic medal at cycling for any Argentine. Juan Curuchet retired after participating on six Olympic Games.
2008Walter Pérez CyclingWon gold medal at Olympic Men's Madison, one of two gold medal for Argentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics and first ever olympic medal at cycling for any Argentine. Juan Curuchet retired after participating on six Olympic Games.
2009Juan Martín del Potro ' TennisWon US Open defeating the five-time defending champion Roger Federer, and became the first Argentine male to win the title since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.
2010Luciana Aymar Field hockeyWon the Women's Hockey World Cup and was named player of the tournament, won Champions Trophy and was named player of the tournament, won the FIH Player of the Year Award for the 7th time.
2011Lionel Messi Association footballNamed world player of the year for the third time in a row, won FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, La Liga, Spanish Supercopa. Named captain of Argentina national football team.
2012Sergio Martínez BoxingWBC Middleweight Champion against Julio César Chávez Jr, named Boxer of the Year by the WBC.
2013Marcos Maidana BoxingWBA Welterweight Champion against the previously unbeaten Adrien Broner.
2014Adolfo Cambiaso PoloAs captain of La Dolfina Polo Team won the Triple Crown of Polo, which is considered the highest honor in the polo world, for second year in a row.
2015Paula Pareto JudoWorld Champion at the 2015 World Judo Championships.
2016Juan Martín del Potro ' TennisWon Stockholm Open, the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, helped Argentina to win Davis Cup for the first time ever, defeated then world no. 1 Novak Djokovic and no. 2 Andy Murray. Improved his ranking from 1045° to 38°. Won ATP World Tour Award as Comeback Player of the Year.
2017Delfina Pignatiello SwimmingWon two gold and a silver medal at the 2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, broke two championship records, a South American record and three national records. Won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the 2017 South American Youth Games.
2018Agustín Canapino Auto racingWon a second Turismo Carretera title.
2019Luis Scola BasketballLed the team that won the gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and silver medal at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Named member of the FIBA 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.