The annual Gazzetta Sports Awards has announced the Italian women’s deaf volleyball team as the Paralympic Athlete of the Year. The Gazzetta Sports Award are an annual award that celebrates the accomplishments of Italian’s in sport.
The team finished at the Deaflympics with the silver medal, losing to Japan in the finals. The Italians lost in straight sets 3-0, (25-15, 25-14, 25-17). They were not expected to go into the finals but defied the odds to go beyond their limits to take the silver medal.
In the bronze medal match, Team USA took third-place after sweeping Ukraine while Turkey took the men’s title over Ukraine in straight sets.
The Deaflympics began in 1924, which started more than 30 years prior to the Paralympics induction and conjunction with the Olympic Games.
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