The “Soirée des Etoiles” was first held in Doha, Qatar, in December 2014, in between the annual FINA World Aquatics Convention and the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) and was then organised in Budapest (HUN) in January 2016.
Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
In a spectacular ceremony at the Ceasar’s Hotel in Windsor (CAN), FINA paid today its annual tribute to the best athletes of 2016 during its FINA/Alisports World Aquatics Gala – “Soirée des Etoiles”. The group included the best male and female competitor in each of the aquatic disciplines, with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio largely determining the outcome of the evening.
In Swimming, Michael Phelps (USA) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN) were the best of the year, after their outstanding results in Brazil – six medals (including five gold) for the North American and four podium presences (comprising three titles) for the Magyar great. The best Olympic swimming performances went to Adam Peaty (GBR) and Katie Ledecky (USA).
In Water Polo, the Olympic and World League champions, respectively Serbia among men and USA in the women’s field, were naturally the winners. In Diving, Chinese divers Chen Aisen (two gold medals in Rio) and Shi Tingmao (Olympic champion in the 3m individual and synchro springboard) were the best of 2016. Olympic gold medallists Ferry Weertman and Sharon Rouwendaal (both from the Netherlands) won in the Open Water Swimming category, while synchronized swimmers Svetlana Romashina and Natalia Ishchenko (Russian winners of the duet and team events in Rio) got their discipline’s prize. Finally, World Cup winners Gary Hunt (GBR) and Lysanne Richard (CAN) were consecrated the best high divers of the year.
At the end of the Gala, Michael Phelps received a special award from FINA: “Aquatic Legend, the Greatest of All Time”. It was a fair tribute to the North American, who retired following the 2016 Games, after earning 28 medals at Olympic level, an unprecedented feat among all sports.
Alisports, the new title sponsor of this ceremony, awarded a prize to Chinese diving great Ruolin Chen.
The 2016 winners by category are:
 Swimming |
Men | Michael Phelps | United States |
| Women | Katinka Hosszu | Hungary | |
| Best Swimming Performance | Adam Peaty Katie Ledecky |
Great Britain United States |
|
 Water Polo |
Men | Serbia Coach: Dejan Savic |
Serbia |
| Women | USA Coach: Adam Krikorian |
United States | |
 Diving |
Men | Chen Aisen | China |
| Women | Shi Tingmao | China | |
 Synchro |
Women | Svetlana Romashina | Russia |
| Women | Natalia Ishchenko | Russia | |
 Open Water |
Men | Ferry Weertman | Netherlands |
| Women | Sharon Rouwendaal | Netherlands | |
 High Diving |
Men | Gary Hunt | Great Britain |
| Women | Lysanne Richard | Canada |
The following coaches were also rewarded on the occasion: Bob Bowman (coach of Michael Phelps, USA), Shane Tusup (coach of Katinka Hosszu, HUN), Dejan Savic (coach of Team Serbia, men’s water polo), Adam Krikorian (coach of Team USA, women’s water polo), Marcel Wouda (coach of Ferry Weertman, NED), Philippe Lucas (coach of Sharon Rouwendaal, NED), Tatiana Danchenko (coach of Svetlana Romashina and Natalia Ishchenko, RUS), Liu Ben (coach of Cbhen Aisen and Shi Tingmao, CHN), Alex Rochas (coach of Gary Hunt, GBR) and Chris Huber (coach of Lysanne Richard, CAN).
Finally, the FINA Media Award of 2016 was awarded to Clémentine Blondet, from the French sport daily newspaper L’Equipe.
Press release courtesy of FINA.
He deserved. He’s the Athlete of all times. The Best Ever.
Congratulations Champ!
He has 2 be named.Michael Phelps is a Champion.
How did ledecky not get it ?
Bravo and congratulation
Congrtas, Katinka – Well derserved.
What a strange world we are lining in. Unbelievably strong finish at last 100m of Ye Shiwen at 400IM in London made a tsunami of protests and resulted in the retesting her for doping. The four and a half second improvement of Katinka Hosszu at last 200m at the same discipline in Rio went unnoticed. Can you imagine a swimmer with the rank above 100 at 200m distance last year to win the Olympic gold next year? Or can you picture Sarah Sjostrom or Katie Ledecky to drop four seconds in one year? And we are not talking about young girl who goes through the puberty stage. It is a full grown 27 year old woman. And there were nothing spectacular neither at her first half of the distance at 400IM nor at her favorite 200IM next days nor at 200 BK where she actually lost to the swimmer who was 2 second slower than the winner in London. Just this last 200 at 400IM on the first day of competition. I don’t believe it is naturally possible.
FINA is a bunch of cheaters in business suits. Of course they are welcome the likes in the swimming suits.
P.S. Katinka Hoszzu’s splits at 400IM
in Kazan 2:08.00 – 4:30.39
in Rio 2:08.39 – 4:26.39
Well deserved