Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

"Unimore Sport Festival 2024"

The Unimore Sport Festival 2024 was held at the university’s Reggio Emilia campus in Palazzo Dossetti, marking the customary end-of-year celebration for students in the Unimore Sport Excellence programme. These students have excelled in their sporting endeavours during the last academic year.

The event was attended by Rector Carlo Adolfo Porro, the University’s Delegate for Sport, Prof. Isabella Morlini, the Vice President of Cus More, Eng. Leonardo Reale, the Councillor for Sport of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Dr. Stefania Bondavalli, Dr. Giammaria Manghi representing the Emilia Romagna Region, and the athletes who were awarded sporting merit certificates.

“This year, once again, we have presented recognition certificates to students who have excelled in sport, achieving results of significant value, not only at a national level but also at European and world levels. Our university continues to support, with great coordination between various departments and local sports clubs, the Unimore Sport Excellence dual career project, which allows students to balance their competitive athletic careers with their university studies. Additionally, with significant organisational effort, Unimore and Cus More ensure that our students can participate annually in national, European, and even world university championships,” said Prof. Isabella Morlini, the Rector’s Delegate for Sport.

“Today – continued Prof. Morlini – we celebrated the successes and achievements reached, but when we talk about victory in sport, we implicitly acknowledge the work, determination, and passion that led to these victories. We also remember the defeats that were learned from and overcome. All of this is valuable not only in sport but also in academic study. Sport can change the lives of our students, including those who practice it recreationally, as physical activity or as a lifestyle, and that’s why our university has considered it a central and highly relevant theme for many years."

For the latest edition of the Unimore Sport Excellence programme, 89 students were admitted, of which 50 were male athletes and 39 were female athletes, representing all the departments of Unimore. These students have competed in high-level national and international sporting events, both in student competitions and in senior categories.

Regarding university competitions, over 100 Unimore-Cus More athletes participated in the 2024 National University Championships Molise, winning 7 medals. Two Unimore-Cus More athletes also competed in the National University Canoeing Championships in Genoa, winning 5 medals. Additionally, an athlete took part in the World University Championships in Finswimming, securing 5 medals, while another athlete participated in the World Canoe Sprint Championships, earning 4 medals.

At the senior level, Unimore also saw participation from athletes in various national and international events: one athlete in the Italian National Canoeing Championships (winning 4 medals), one athlete placing third at the Italian Amateur Golf Championships, one athlete second in the Italian A1 Inline Hockey Championships, one athlete in the Italian Archery Championships (2 medals), one athlete in the World Para-Swimming Championships (winning a medal), one athlete with 3 medals at the World Angling Championships, one athlete with a medal at the European Beach Volleyball Championships, and two athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Unimore Sport Excellence programme creates the ideal conditions for young, talented athletes to successfully balance competitive sport and academic commitment. It also allows students to access the “dual career” system, a set of benefits and tools that the university offers to support students in completing their university degrees while pursuing their athletic careers. Among these benefits are academic and classroom tutoring, as well as a diploma supplement upon graduation to certify the dual pathway undertaken by the participants.

Each year, the best student-athletes in the programme are awarded study prizes for sporting merit, valued at €2,500. In 2024, six accommodation spots (4 in Reggio Emilia and 2 in Modena) were also allocated to students in the USE programme.

Outstanding Unimore Athletes in 2024:

• Valentina Gottardi - Olympic Beach Volleyball Player, Paris 2024 - 9th place and silver medal at the European Championships
• Ludovica Cavalli - Olympic Track and Field Athlete, 1500m Paris 2024
• Leonardo Rigo – World Champion in Paralympic Fencing (foil)
• Ilaria Brugnoli – First place at the Italian Para Triathlon Championships
• Andrea Aguzzoli - Bronze medal at the Under-25 World Championships by Nations, silver medal at the World Fishing Championship (Slovenia), and silver medal at the Senior World Angling Championships
• Valter Prampolini – 2 gold medals, 2 silver, and 1 bronze at the 2024 World University Finswimming Championships
• Lucrezia Zironi – Italian National Champion in Canoeing (K1 and K2 500m), silver medal in mixed K2 500m, World University Champion in K1 1500m, K2 mixed 500m, and bronze medal in K2 500m
• Miguel Orzi – Third place in the Italian Amateur Golf Championships and participant in the 2024 World University Championships
• Roberto Sottile - Italian Archery Champion (individual and team)
• Giulia Brisinello – Vice-Champion of Italy in A1 Inline Hockey with the Diavoli Vicenza team

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng