VICTORIA - University of Victoria men's rowing standout Giancarlo DiPompeo has added another prestigious accolade to his name: the 2024 Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) Excellence Awards U23 Male Athlete of the Year. This honour, awarded to competitors with outstanding achievements on both national and international stages, cements DiPompeo's place as one of Canada's brightest young rowing talents. He also received the Tony Zasada Memorial Award, awarded annually to an athlete who best emulates the qualities and character of Rowing Canada Hall of Famer, Tony Zasada.

[Read 2024 RCA Excellence Award winner release] 

The recognition follows an already stellar year for DiPompeo, who was also named the 2024 Rowing BC Athlete of the Year earlier this season.

Since arriving at UVic in 2021, DiPompeo has continually raised the bar in Canadian rowing. A 2023 national champion, he claimed gold in the lightweight single (1x) at the Canadian University Rowing Championship (CURCs) and has consistently been a top performer for the Vikes.

"He [Giancarlo] does the work. He's methodical, disciplined, and he doesn't take shortcuts. This approach gives him the confidence that he can go up against the best in the world, and that is the kind of competition he seeks out," said Aalbert Van Schothorst, UVic men's rowing head coach. "When he doesn't perform at the level he wants, he analyzes the performance and builds on it to reach the next level of mastery."

At the 2024 CURCs held at Elk Lake, DiPompeo once again demonstrated why he is the Vikes top performer by earning silver in the lightweight men's single (1x) and bronze in both the lightweight men's double (2x) and lightweight men's four (4+).

DiPompeo shone on the international stage as well. At the FISU World University Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, he brought home a silver medal in the lightweight men's single (1x). Later, he competed at the U23 World Rowing Championships in the lightweight men's double (2x), narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in a fiercely competitive field.

DiPompeo's performances at the 2024 National Rowing Championships in Welland, ON, were nothing short of spectacular. He secured gold in the U23 men's single (1x) and silver in the open men's single (1x), further solidifying his dominance on the Canadian rowing scene.

As captain of the Vikes rowing team and a multi-time nominee for UVic Men's Athlete of the Year, DiPompeo's leadership and dedication continue to inspire his teammates and elevate the program.

With the Rowing Canada Aviron U23 Male Athlete of the Year award now added to his growing list of accolades, it's a promising indicator of what's still to come.