Best of the year

Diego Hypolito and Marina Canetti, from water polo, are elected the best in their sports.

By Media Relations - in 03/12/2009 às 14:23

The COB (Brazilian Olympic Committee) released the list of the best athletes of 2009, in their respective sports.

Two red-blacks are recurring figures in the 11th edition of the Brazilian Olympic Awards, which will be held on December 21st, in a ceremony at the Maracanãzinho Gymnasium, Rio de Janeiro.

And the best part of the party is the people who will elect the best athlete of the year through popular vote using the link below:

http://www.premiobrasilolimpico.com.br/conheca/conheca_atleta.asp

Diego Hypolito, who in addition to being a candidate for the 2009 Brazilian Olympic Prize, was named the best athlete in Artistic Gymnastics for the fourth consecutive year.

Another Flamengo player who makes the list of the year's best by sport is water polo player Marina Canetti. Daughter of Antonio Canetti, coach of CRFlamengo, and sister of two other respected players (Cecília and Manuela), Marina was considered the standout player in Brazilian water polo in 2008 and 2009. A native of Gávea and center for the Brazilian national team, the Flamengo player currently plays for Ethnikos in Greece.

In addition to the 42 athletes chosen by the Electoral College, there will also be tributes to coaches, who will receive trophies for best individual sports, best team sports, and best Paralympic. Athletes from the School/University Olympics will also be honored. The Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Trophy will also be awarded to former athletes who symbolize the legacy of Brazil's first two-time Olympic champion.

Diego Hypolito's profile, according to the COB website:

Athlete Diego Hypolito decided to pursue artistic gymnastics at age 7, influenced by his sister, Daniele Hypolito. In 2009, he placed first in the floor exercise at the Slovenia World Cup. He won gold in the floor and vault at the Glasgow World Cup in Scotland and was the floor champion at the Moscow World Cup. At the London World Championships, he reached the floor final and finished ninth. In November, he won his fourth World Cup title in the floor event.