Julio Velasco’s national volleyball team has won the ‘Best Women’s Team’ award at the 2024 ANOC Awards.

The Azzurre were among the stars of the event in Cascais, Portugal, organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees and broadcast live on ItaliaTeamTV. The jury, which annually recognises outstanding performances in major international sporting events, selected Italvolley, who won gold at Paris 2024 without suffering a single defeat, helping Italia Team reach 40 podium finishes and surpass its record medal tally from Tokyo 2020.

Ekaterina Antropova, Caterina Bosetti, Carlotta Cambi, Anna Danesi, Monica De Gennaro, Paola Egonu, Sarah Fahr, Gaia Giovannini, Marina Lubian, Loveth Omoruyi, Alessia Orro, Miriam Sylla, and Ilaria Spirito: this was the squad that secured the first Olympic gold in Italian volleyball history, following three silver and three bronze medals won by the men’s team.

Among those attending the ceremony at the CCE Auditorium in Estoril were CONI President Giovanni Malagò, Secretary General Carlo Mornati, and a delegation from CONI’s Olympic Preparation division, who travelled to Portugal to participate in the ANOC General Assembly, which will conclude on 1 November.

“How did we win gold? Our mindset changed, and thanks to our coach Julio Velasco, our staff, and the lessons learned from past experiences, we made it,” said Carlotta Cambi on stage (photo ANOC) after receiving the award from Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations. “It was an incredible journey. When we returned to Italy, we received an extraordinary welcome”.

Earlier in Cascais, Raffaele Pagnozzi, Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees and former Secretary General of CONI, was also honoured with the ANOC Merit Award.