Tania Cagnotto has now commented on the new diving queen. © Instagram / Social Media / @dao_sport

Cagnotto crowns Pellacani: "The best in Europe"

Chiara Pellacani dominated the diving events at the European Championships in Paris. The 23-year-old Italian won five gold medals at the competition. Her performance also impressed South Tyrol's diving legend Tania Cagnotto.

August 07, 2026

From: do

Pellacani has been among the international elite for several years. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Roman narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in the three-meter springboard event. At the 2025 World Championships, she won gold in mixed synchronized diving and two additional medals. At the European Championships in Paris, she went one better, becoming the standout athlete in the diving events with five gold medals.

Pellacani received high praise from Tania Cagnotto. The Bolzano native, who herself had shaped Italian diving for many years, spoke about her successor in an interview with "SportMediaset" in Obereggen.

Pellacani has five gold medals around his neck. © ANSA / Redazione Telenews

“Chiara is showing that she belongs among the best. She’s the best in Europe,” explained the Olympic medalist. The South Tyrolean is particularly impressed by the ease with which Pellacani performs her jumps. “She has a beautiful way of jumping and conveys a sense of lightness and simplicity.”

Cagnotto is amazed by her successor

There was even a touch of sporting envy involved in some of the jumps. "Some jumps were physically difficult for me, while she does them with incredible ease," said Cagnotto.

Cagnotto herself was among the world's elite for many years, became world champion, and won a bronze and a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. She is one of the most successful Italian divers of all time.