PR 01 - FINA Athletes of the year 2013

After a memorable year in terms of performances, the FINA Family voted for the “Athletes of the Year 2013”, having chosen 11 exceptional competitors in the six FINA disciplines. Organised by the “FINA Aquatics World Magazine”, this selection had a important participation of 674 voters, coming from the FINA National Federations, FINA Committees, media, partners and experts in Aquatic sports.

The results and achievements at the 15th FINA World Championships, held in Barcelona (ESP) from July 19 to August 4, 2013 largely dictated the outcome of the vote, with all the selected athletes leaving the Catalan capital with at least one gold medal. For this fourth consecutive edition of the “FINA Athletes of the Year”, High Diving was included for the first time in the vote, after its inclusion in the programme of the FINA World Championships.

The list of the FINA Athletes of the Year 2013 is:

SWIMMING
Men: Ryan Lochte (USA)
2013 World champion in the 200m back, 200m IM and 4x200m free; 2013 World silver medallist in the 4x100m free. FINA Athlete of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

Women: Katie Ledecky (USA)
2013 World champion in the 400m, 800m (in a WR time) and 1500m free (in a WR time), and 4x200m free.

DIVING
Men: Chong He (CHN)
2013 World champion in individual and synchronised 3m springboard; 2013 World Series – second in the overall 3m springboard ranking.

Women: Zi He (CHN)
2013 World champion in the 1m and 3m individual springboard; 2013 World Series – winner of the overall 3m springboard ranking.

HIGH DIVING
Men: Orlando Duque (COL)
2013 World champion.

Women: Cesilie Carlton (USA)
2013 World champion.

WATER POLO
Men: Denes Varga (HUN)
2013 World champion, MVP in Barcelona; 2013 World League – silver.

Women: Jennifer Pareja (ESP)
2013 World champion, MVP in Barcelona.

SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
Svetlana Romashina (RUS)
2013 World champion in solo free, solo technical, duet free and duet technical. FINA Athlete of the Year in 2011.

OPEN WATER SWIMMING
Men: Thomas Lurz (GER)
2013 World champion in 25km and Team event; 2013 World silver medallist in 10km; 2013 World bronze medallist in 5km; 2013 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup – winner. FINA Athlete of the Year in 2011.

Women: Poliana Okimoto (BRA)
2013 World champion in 10km; 2013 World silver medallist in 5km; 2013 World bronze medallist in Team event.