Italian cyclist Letizia PATERNOSTER, one of the most talented junior athletes of the Italian Sports movement, was elected as Best European young Athlete on Saturday 25 November at the EOC GENERAL Assembly gathered in Zagreb.

She was one of the five shortlisted athletes the European NOCs had selected from a long list of 20 candidates they had previously submitted. In the last two years, she has won many competitions at a European and World level. Among others: 2017 Track World Championships: Gold medal + World record in Women Junior (Team Pursuit), 2 Gold at Women Junior (Omnium and Madison) – Silver at Women Junior Individual Pursuit

Delegates in Zagreb also elected:

2^nd prize – Ms. Reka NAGY (Hungary) swimming – the most decorated and most successful athlete of Team Hungary at the Gyor 2017 EYOF: Gold medal in 200 individual medley and in 400 m individual medley – Silver medal in 800 m freestyle and in 4×100 m individual medley.

3^rd equal

-Mr. Dimitrios PAPADIMITRIOU (Greece) sailing – Gold Medal at Laser Radial Youth Worlds Championship, Silver Medal at Laser Radial Youth European Championship, Gold Medal at Laser Radial Hellenic Championship, Silver Medal at Laser Radial Youth Europa Cup

In 2016 Gold Medal at Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds Championship, Laser 4.7 Youth European Championship and Laser 4.7 Eurolymp

and Mr. Mihrac AKKUS (Turkey) judo – The 3 gold medals he won in the World and European events makes him the most successful U18 Judoka of the World in 2017.

His best results in 2017: 1^st place at World Championship Cadets & Teams, at Gyor Summer EYOF and at Cadet European Championships. Judo changed his life.

 5^th Mr. Filip NEPEJCHAL (Czech Republic) shooting – world record 50m Rifle 3×40 –at Junior World Championships in Munich (GER), first place 50m Rifle 3×40 at Junior European Championships in  Baku (AZE) in 2017 – In 2016-first place at ECH in Tallin (EST) and at World Championships in Baku (AZE) – participation at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games

This year the cash prize have been increased and given to all five nominees, in order to better help these young champions to develop skills and enhance performances.