As every year, it’s up to you to choose who will be the sportswoman, sportsman, and para-sport champion of 2012, to be honored at the upcoming Sports Victory Awards taking place on Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 6:30 PM at the Palais Acropolis in Nice. Ready, set, vote!
Once again, high-level categories are being offered for the 2013 edition of the Sports Victory Awards, with, in the female category, six athletes who have particularly excelled in pools, on snowy slopes, on tatamis and wrestling mats, in France and around the world:
SWIMMING – Anna SANTAMANS (Olympic Nice Natation): Two titles of French Champion in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly and qualification for the 2012 London Olympics. Last year, in the youth category, she was French Champion in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly, in the 4x100m Freestyle relay and in the 4x100m Medley relay.
SWIMMING – Charlotte BONNET (Olympic Nice Natation): French Champion in the 100m Freestyle; Bronze medalist at the London Olympics in the 4x200m Freestyle relay. Last year, in the youth category, French Champion in the 100m and 200m Freestyle, in the 4x100m Freestyle relay and the 4x100m Medley relay, and Vice-Champion of France in the 100m Butterfly.
SKI – Nastasia NOENS (Interclub Nice): A slalom specialist, she has been participating in the World Cup of the specialty since 2009, with notable performances such as a 4th place in Soldeu and a 5th place in Flachau, finishing 11th in the world rankings. Last year, she easily won the National Slalom and Combined Championship.
KARATE – Sonia FIUZA (Nice Elite Sport): Bronze medalist at the recent World Karate Championships in Kata, as she was at the last European Championships, the young Niçoise shone on global tatamis before retiring from sports. She is now preparing the next generation by coaching the young team at Nice Elite Sport.
WRESTLING – Cynthia VESCAN (Nice Olympic Lutte Côte d’Azur): Recently crowned senior French Champion, the young wrestler is also Junior European Vice-Champion in her specialty and participated in the last London 2012 Olympics.
SAVATE – Adeline MAY (Nice Boxing Team Frank May): A budding champion, this young Niçoise, daughter of the famous champion Franck May now elected to the Board of the French Federation of Savate Boxe Française, won the European Championship -18 years and the French Championship in 2012.
For the men as well, the choice is particularly strong with six champions who have made Nice shine around the globe:
TAEKWONDO – Augustin BATA (Taekwondo Azur Sport): With a French Champion title and a European Vice-Champion title in the -87kg category in Great Britain, Augustin Bata honored Niçoise Taekwondo on many French, European, and global tatamis.
FREEDIVING – Guillaume NERY (CIPA): A new French record at -123m and a team Vice-World Champion title, Guillaume Nery confirmed his superb title of world champion in constant weight won in 2011 in Kalamata (Greece).
FULL CONTACT – Jérôme ARDISSONE (Ardissone Nice Full Contact): By winning on points after 10 rounds, Jérôme Ardissone claimed the 2012 WKN European belt against Juan Rodriguez, the reigning Spanish champion. A fine performance for this young Niçoise from a lineage of great champions like his father, discipline pioneer, Edmond Ardissone.
BOXING – Denis SAIONI (Pugilist Club Niçois): It was at home, in the Albert 1st Gardens in Nice, that Denis Saioni claimed the EBA European middleweight belt after a tough 12-round fight against Hungarian Jozsef Matolcsi. The Niçoise boxer announced his retirement from the rings after this last match.
FOOTBALL – Fabien DAO CASTELLANA (OGC Nice): Winner with his teammates from OGC Nice of the prestigious Gambardella Cup, the captain of the Gym’s U19 team is part of the rising generation of Azuréen football. In May 2012, the midfielder signed his first professional contract with OGC Nice.
SWIMMING – Clément LEFERT (Olympic Nice Natation): An Olympic Champion title in London with the 4x100m Freestyle relay and a Silver Medal in the 4x200m Freestyle relay for the Niçoise swimmer who also won the 100m Butterfly and Bronze Medal in the 100m Freestyle at the French Championships.
In the Handisport category, there are a woman and two men competing for the title of handisport athlete of the year:
CYCLING – Benjamin LANDIER (ANICES): A world title won at the 2012 Duathlon World Championships to confirm the one won in 2011 in Handisport Triathlon, Benjamin Landier is also Vice-Champion of France in the KM launched on track and winner of the Bayonne International Criterium.
SWIMMING – Clara PERRIN (ACSA 06): French Champion in the 400m freestyle (D1) at the last adapted French sports championships in Clermont-Ferrand last November.
FENCING – Robert SELLEM (OGC Nice Fencing): 2012 French Champion in épée for visually impaired, Robert Sellem is a regular on the podiums as he had already claimed bronze at the 2011 French Championships.
