Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 19, 2021: Chinese divers Shi Tingmao and Xie Siyi were named best female and male divers respectively at the FINA World Aquatics Gala held at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Hotel.
Shi, 30, won the women’s 3 metre springboard and 3m synchro gold medals at Tokyo 2020 – the second successive Olympic Games in which she has achieved a golden double.
According to FINA data, the Chongqing-born Shi has accumulated 63 medals in FINA and Olympic Games events, comprised of 58 gold and five silver.
Xie, 25, hails from Shantou in Guangdong province and is a Games Ambassador for the OCA’s 3rd Asian Youth Games to be staged in Shantou from December 20-28, 2022.
At Tokyo 2020, Xie also dived to a golden double in men’s 3m springboard and 3m synchro. He has won 43 FINA and Olympic Games medals, with 31 gold, nine silver and three bronze.
FINA President Captain Husain Al-Musallam said: “Tonight is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible records and achievements of aquatics athletes from all over the world.
“Athletes are the beating heart of our community. Without you, there is no sports history. Without you, we cannot introduce innovative new competitions as we have done here in Abu Dhabi during the FINA Aquatics Festival with the debut of the Open Water Mixed Relay. Thank you all for the sacrifice you have given during this challenging year.”
The athlete award winners for 2021 are:
Best Male Water Polo Player: Filip Filipovic
Best Female Water Polo Player: Maggie Steffens
Best Male Artistic Swimmer: Aleksandr Maltsev
Best Female Artistic Swimmer: Svetlana Kolesnichenko & Svetlana Romashina
Best Male Diver: Xie Siyi
Best Female Diver: Shi Tingmao
Best Male High Diver: Owen Weymouth
Best Female High Diver: Ellie Smart
Best Male Swimmer: Caeleb Dressel
Best Female Swimmer: Emma McKeon
Best Male Open Water Swimmer: Florian Wellbrock
Best Female Open Water Swimmer: Ana Marcela Cunha
The coaches were also rewarded, including Nie Yudi (male diver) and Zhao Wenjin (female diver).
Source: www.fina.org