The CONI Honours the Sporting Career of Nico Onore: A Milestone for Queer and Transgender Representation in Italian Sailing
Grosseto, 26 November 2025
The Provincial Committee of CONI Grosseto has awarded Nico Onore a prestigious honour for the sporting results achieved in 2025, officially recognising the athlete’s value within the Italian offshore sailing scene. The award ceremony took place in the Aula Magna of the Bianciardi High School Campus, during the Sports Merit Ceremony.
The 2025 racing season saw Nico stand out in the most demanding regattas of the Mini 650 circuit, covering over 2,000 miles in offshore competitions and obtaining results of international relevance:
• Corsica Med – 500 miles solo (1st place)
• Rome–Barcelona – 500 miles double-handed (2nd place)
• Solo Med – 700 miles solo (3rd place)
• Roma X2 – 500 miles double-handed (6th place)
For the Italian sports community, this recognition represents far more than a technical evaluation: Nico Onore becomes a point of reference for all Queer and Transgender people who seek in sport a place for expression, identity, and self-determination. The award from CONI—Italy’s highest sports authority—confirms that talent, performance, and identity can coexist and receive full institutional legitimacy.
From the Provincial Delegation of CONI Grosseto — states Delegate Aldo Peronaci — comes a message that underscores the profound meaning of this award:
"As the Provincial Delegation of CONI Grosseto, we enthusiastically welcomed the nomination from the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, which, through the achievements accomplished aboard 'Racing Against The Tide', fully confirmed the sporting value of Nico Onore. With great enthusiasm we prepared the plaque, commemorating the 2025 season’s regattas, with the hope that his sporting journey — already so significant — is only just beginning."
Nico now continues toward the international project Racing Against the Tide, in preparation for the 2027 Mini Transat, with the declared goal of transforming his participation into a Manifesto of Inclusion, Visibility, and Representation for LGBTQIA+ athletes in sailing and competitive sport.
"Receiving this award from CONI is not only a sporting recognition, but a clear signal: our identity deserves space, respect, and legitimacy. I want my story to help other queer and transgender athletes feel seen, recognised, and free to compete," the athlete states.