Italian trap shooting star Jessica Rossi and Georgia’s outstanding Judoka Lasha Bekauri have been named the inaugural winners of the Janez Kocijančič Award, while Minja Korhonen won the Winter Piotr Nurowski Prize 2023.

Awarded at a Gala Dinner in Bucharest during the 53^rd European Olympic Committees’ (EOC) General Assembly, the Janez Kocijančič Award has been inaugurated by the EOC in memory of its former President and is given to the best female and male athletes at the European Games.

The maiden winners were chosen by the EOC Athletes’ Commission for their distinguished performances at the Krakow-Malopolska 2023, the 3^rd European Games, and for exemplifying the Olympic spirit and values during the competition.

Italian trap shooter Rossi won three gold medals in Poland in the individual, team and mixed team events, having won the gold medal in the individual event at the Olympic Games London 2012 previously.

Following his gold medal in the men’s 90kg event at Tokyo 2020, Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri was on the podium once more in Krakow as he was part of the team who secured victory in the mixed event.

Meanwhile, Korhonen was voted the ninth Winter Piotr Nurowski Prize winner by the NOCs in attendance at the General Assembly with 19 of the 46 votes going to the Nordic combined athlete from Finland.

Korhonen won gold medals in the Gundersen and team normal hill events at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon earlier this year.

The Finnish star also earned her first World Cup podium at the age of 16 this season with a third-place finish in Ramsau in the Gundersen normal hill event and won gold in the Gundersen normal hill competition at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Planica.

Biathlon athletes Antonin Guy (FRA) and Julia Tannheimer (GER), ski jumper Stephan Embacher (AUT) and Alpine skier Zak Carrick-Smith (GBR) all received votes having been shortlisted following their outstanding achievements over the winter.

Each of the five finalists each will receive a training scholarship to support their development, including €15,000 to Korhonen as the winner.

The Piotr Nurowski Prize is awarded annually for Winter and Summer sports to an athlete aged between 14 and 18 who has excelled in their sport and embodied the Olympic Values.