Cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt chosen as National Sports Award 2022 winners
The gold medalists in the Elite 16 Gstaad Competition, part of the volleyball world Beach Pro Tour, and champions in the South American and Pan American Games, were chosen by the commission led by Minister Jaime Pizarro.
Chilean beach volleyball players, Marco and Esteban Grimalt, the “Grimalt Cousins”, were chosen today as the National Sports Award 2022 winners. The commission in charge of sanctioning the highest recognition that Chile gives to conventional and/or para athletes who stand out for achievements won over the past calendar year was headed by Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro.
The most decorated Chilean beach volleyball duo has received the award thanks to results achieved last year. Among them, gold medals in the Elite 16 Gstaad Competition, part of the volleyball world Beach Pro Tour, and in the Asunción 2022 South American Games stand out.
The duo was also eighth in the 2022 world rankings, and they have been selected for the Olympics twice, at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.
The commission that chose the Grimalt Cousins was made up of Minister Pizarro, Senator Sebastián Keitel, Deputy Marisela Santibáñez, the director of the National Sports Institute (IND), Israel Castro, and the president of the Sports Journalists Circle, Danilo Díaz.
The country’s highest sports authority spoke via video-link with the volleyball players, who are currently at an event in Rome, once the award had been announced in order to congratulate them. After describing their careers and the performances that led to them receiving the award, he praised the example that they have made for the generations that have grown up watching them play. “We are very happy to be able to speak with you and give you this news. We know the effort, dedication and work you put in every day. We hope that this stage of preparation for the Pan American Games will be very positive. There are very important challenges coming in the next few months,” he commented.
The winners also expressed their happiness: “We feel honored. It fills us with motivation for what’s to come, especially for the 2023 Santiago Games, where we’ll be the local team, playing at home. And, also, for the Olympic Games that are coming up in Paris.” They also highlighted the support of their family and the institutions that have helped them develop their career, including the Sports Ministry and the IND.
History of winners
Chile’s National Sports Award is established in article 79 of the Sports Law No. 19.712. Its goal is to recognize the sporting achievements of Chilean athletes during the previous calendar year. The award can be received only once in an athlete’s lifetime, and an athlete can also only be nominated once. They must be nominated by a National Sports Federation, the Chilean Olympic Committee, the Chilean Paralympic Committee, or the National Defense Sports Confederation.
The National Sports Award grants the winner an amount worth 245 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual: An indicator used for tax purposes whose value in pesos is defined by law and is adjusted each month in accordance with the Consumer Price Index) for a single athlete, or 367 UTM for a team of athletes. The winner also receives a diploma signed by President Gabriel Boric.
The award has been given since 2002. According to the Sports Law, that year is the only time it has been awarded to two athletes or teams of athletes: rower Miguel Cerda and Olympic footballer Cristián Yanti, who obtained bronze medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
The athletes who have subsequently received the award are:
2003: Nicolás Massú, Fernando González and Marcelo Ríos (Tennis)
2004: Carlo de Gavardo (Motorcycling)
2005: Alberto González Más (Sailing)
2006: Women’s Roller Hockey Team
2007: Francisco López Contardo (Motorcycling)
2008: Natalia Ducó Soler (Athletics)
2009: Kristel Kobrich (Swimming)
2010: Bárbara Riveros (Triathlon)
2011: Tomás González (Gymnastics)
2012: Cristián Valenzuela (Paralympic Athletics)
2013: Felipe Miranda (Waterskiing)
2014: María José Moya (Speed Skating)
2015: Juan Carlos Garrido (Para Powerlifting)
2016: Pablo Quintanilla (Motorcycling)
2017: María Fernanda Valdés (Weightlifting)
2018: Alberto Abarza (Paralympic Swimming)
2019: Francisca Crovetto (Skeet Shooting)
2020: Joaquín Niemann (Golf)
2021: María Francisca Mardones (Para Athletics)