From the northern Italian diving hub of Bolzano emerges yet another story of familial success in the sport of diving. First there was Carlo and Klaus Dibiasi, now there’s Giorgio and Tania Cagnotto. We recently spoke with Tania to learn about her journey to the top, what’s involved in the upper echelons of diving, and how it makes its way as a water sport next to the big names that make swimming popular.
Following in her father’s footsteps … and making history
In the annals of Italian diving, there are two names that jump out – Dibiasi and Cagnotto. Between the two of them, Klaus Dibiasi and Giorgio Cagnotto are responsible of all nine of Italy’s Olympic diving medals, and until 2005, all five of the nation’s World Championship diving medals.
Then along came Tania. In 2005 at the Montreal World Champs, she became the first Italian woman to win a World Championship diving medal (a 3m springboard bronze). At the next three World Championships, she went on to pick up another 3 bronze medals and a silver, and in 2013 she had her best-ever World Championship, coming away with two silvers in Barcelona (1m springboard, 3m synchro).
Her surname? Cagnotto. Daughter of Giorgio.
To have followed in her father’s footsteps and make history…
