We are very proud of you: Cus Insubria student-athletes honoured by the Rector for their achievements in national and international competitions

A ceremony dedicated to the Cus Insubria student-athletes who distinguished themselves at the main national and international university competitions of 2026 was held in the Council Room of the University of Insubria. They were welcomed by Rector Maria Cristina Pierro, together with Director General Antonio Romeo and Cus Insubria President Eugenio Meschi, to celebrate the results achieved at the World University Rowing Championships, the National University Rowing Championships in Sabaudia, and the Spring National University Championships in Novara, Vercelli and Alessandria.

“We are very proud and honoured to have you as our students, but also as outstanding athletes,” said Rector Maria Cristina Pierro. “I believe that the determination, rules, order and discipline required in sport — because results are achieved only through sacrifice — are naturally transferred to study as well. The combination of university and sport is a perfect one.”

Among the most important international results were those achieved at the 2026 World University Rowing Championships in London, Canada. Sara Borghi won gold in the women’s single sculls, Aurora Spirito bronze in the women’s eight and Giulio Zuccalà gold in the men’s eight. Medals were also won by Ilaria Colombo, gold as coxswain of the men’s eight, Alessandro Timpanaro, gold in the men’s four, Edoardo Rocchi, bronze in the men’s single sculls and double sculls, Melissa Schincariol, silver in the women’s double sculls and quadruple sculls, and Lorenzo Cracco, gold in the men’s pair.

Those attending the meeting included Sara Borghi, Aurora Spirito, Melissa Schincariol and Giulio Zuccalà. Ilaria Colombo, Alessandro Timpanaro and Edoardo Rocchi were unable to attend because they were competing at the World Championships in China, while Lorenzo Cracco was absent due to university commitments.

Considerable attention was also devoted to the outstanding results achieved at the National University Rowing Championships in Sabaudia, where Cus Insubria finished first in the medal table with 23 gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals. Those taking part in the award ceremony were Vittoria Calabrese, Viola Della Bella, Marta Ravizza, Alizee Ribolzi, Emma Tosi, Luigi Aloe, Giovanni Borgonovo, Luca Borgonovo, Andrea Frigo, Marco Frigo, Francesco Graffione, Federico Martinoia, Loris Piscia, Leonardo Salerno and Davide Todeschini, together with Sara Borghi, Aurora Spirito and Melissa Schincariol, who had already been among the protagonists of the World University Championships.

The rowing team achieved success in numerous events. In the senior men’s coxed four, Edoardo Rocchi, Lorenzo Cracco, Loris Piscia and Federico Martinoia competed with Ilaria Colombo as coxswain; in the senior mixed double sculls, Vittoria Calabrese and Luigi Aloe; in the senior men’s pair, Alessandro Timpanaro and Francesco Graffione; and in the senior men’s double sculls, Davide Todeschini and Leonardo Salerno. In the senior women’s quadruple sculls, Viola Della Bella, Aurora Spirito, Marta Ravizza and Emma Tosi took the top step of the podium, while Luigi Aloe won gold in the senior men’s single sculls, Melissa Schincariol and Giulia Grandi in the senior women’s double sculls, and Alizee Ribolzi in the senior women’s single sculls.

Gold medals also went to Andrea Frigo, Marco Frigo, Giovanni Borgonovo and Luca Borgonovo in the senior men’s quadruple sculls, to Viola Della Bella, Aurora Spirito, Davide Todeschini and Leonardo Salerno in the senior mixed quadruple sculls, and to Sara Borghi and Vittoria Calabrese in the senior women’s pair. Giovanni Borgonovo and Luca Borgonovo also won the senior men’s double sculls relay, while Francesco Graffione, Federico Martinoia, Edoardo Rocchi, Alessandro Timpanaro, Loris Piscia, Lorenzo Cracco, Andrea Frigo and Marco Frigo, with Ilaria Colombo as coxswain, competed in the senior men’s eight relay.

Other successes included gold for Alizee Ribolzi in the senior women’s single sculls, Melissa Schincariol and Giulia Grandi in the lightweight women’s double sculls, Viola Della Bella, Sara Borghi, Aurora Spirito and Vittoria Calabrese in the senior women’s quadruple sculls, Alessandro Timpanaro and Francesco Graffione in the senior men’s pair, and Leonardo Salerno in the senior men’s single sculls. Also taking the top step of the podium were Giovanni Borgonovo, Luca Borgonovo, Melissa Schincariol and Giulia Grandi in the senior mixed quadruple sculls, Sara Borghi and Aurora Spirito in the senior women’s pair, Davide Todeschini, Luigi Aloe, Giovanni Borgonovo and Luca Borgonovo in the senior men’s quadruple sculls, and Viola Della Bella and Alizee Ribolzi in the senior women’s double sculls.

In the senior men’s eight, Francesco Graffione, Federico Martinoia, Edoardo Rocchi, Alessandro Timpanaro, Loris Piscia, Andrea Frigo, Marco Frigo and Lorenzo Cracco, with Ilaria Colombo as coxswain, won gold. Silver medals were won by Edoardo Rocchi, Lorenzo Cracco, Loris Piscia and Federico Martinoia, again with Ilaria Colombo as coxswain, in the senior men’s coxed four; by Davide Todeschini and Luigi Aloe in the senior men’s double sculls; and by Andrea Frigo, Marco Frigo, Emma Tosi and Marta Ravizza in the senior mixed quadruple sculls. Emma Tosi and Marta Ravizza also won bronze in the senior women’s pair.

The ceremony also celebrated the student-athletes who won medals at the 2026 Spring National University Championships in Novara, Vercelli and Alessandria, where Cus Insubria finished sixth in the medal table. In athletics, Domenico Farina won gold in the College 5000 metres, while Alessandro Carli, Giacomo Mangili, Salvatore Verzì and Mattia De Rocchi won the 4x400 metre relay. Elisa Colombani took silver in the 100 metre hurdles and Mattia De Rocchi silver in the College 800 metres, while Sara Gandolfi won bronze in the College 1500 metres.

In taekwondo, Alessia Albu won silver in the -49 kg category and Sarah Bottelli bronze in the -67 kg category. In judo, Christian Sagunti won bronze in the -100 kg category. Salvatore Verzì was unable to attend the ceremony because he was taking part in an Erasmus exchange period.

The award ceremony was also attended by coaches Giovanni Calabrese, for rowing at both the National University Championships and the World Championships, and Fabrizio Anselmo and Alberto Larice, for athletics.

The meeting was an opportunity to recognise a group of student-athletes who have carried the colours of Cus Insubria onto national and international podiums while successfully combining competitive sport with their university studies.