MADRID, 7 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) organized its RFEN 2023 Gala this Friday at the headquarters of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), with a parade of aquatic stars and with special recognition for last summer’s successes at the European Games, held in Krakow (Poland), and at the World Championships, held in Fukuoka (Japan).
On the outskirts of the Alfredo Goyeneche Auditorium, the ‘blue carpet’ was unveiled for an event that rewarded the senior teams of artistic swimming, men’s and women’s water polo, and springboard diving. In addition, the III Hall of Fame included as new members Bernat Picornell i Richier, Miquel Torres, David López-Zubero, Salvador ‘Chava’ Gómez, María Peláez and Ona Carbonell.
Apart from Ona Carbonell herself (artistic swimming), retired Fran Fernández (water polo), Pau Ribes (artistic swimming) and María Elena Sánchez (water polo) received their Gold and Diamond Badge, along with a Gold Badge for the director of Lolo Ibern water polo.
The Honorable Mentions went to the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Council of Oviedo for collaborating in the organization of the 2023 water polo and artistic swimming Super Finals. The Sports Values award went to Disney Spain and Go Fit, which together with ‘Nadar es Vida ‘ of the RFEN have created a scholarship program for minors at risk of social exclusion.
Anniversary Plaques were awarded to clubs with 75 years of experience (Dep. Náutica de Portugalete and CN Tárreaga) and 50 years (CN Premiá and CN Sant Adriá), and the Sports Promotion award went to Tano Montaner and Fran Orizo, two historic members. from the Zaragoza Water Polo School.
The RFEN did not forget the masters category either, in this case with the presence of Canarian swimmers Roberto Alberiche and Rosa Segarra on the stage. There were 14 awarded with Medals for Distinguished Services, highlighting the Gold of the director and president Alberto M. Gutiérrez ‘Guti’ (AR Concepción-Cdad. Lineal) and the referee Vicens Solé Bonich, of the Catalan Federation.
The Sports and Social Communication award was given to Marta Pérez (journalist for ‘Mundo Deportivo’), for the permanent dissemination and visibility of aquatic specialties, and a small tribute was made with videos to all training categories, which achieved 25 international medals last summer.