Artistic Swimmer Sarah Maria Rizea Crowned Miss Italy 2026
Eighteen-year-old artistic swimmer Sarah Maria Rizea has been crowned Miss Italy 2026. A decorated national athlete with nearly 100 medals, she now sets her sights on the Olympic Games.
From the swimming pool to the runway: 18-year-old artistic swimmer and member of the Italian national team Sarah Maria Rizea has been crowned Miss Italy 2026, winning the 80th edition of the country's historic beauty pageant. Rizea, competing as Miss Liguria, triumphed over 15 finalists in the grand finale held at the historic Castle of Santa Severa near Rome.
An Elite Athlete with Global Accolades
Rizea is not only a reigning beauty queen but also an accomplished elite athlete with an impressive international career. She is a member of Fiamme Oro, the sports division of the Italian State Police, and competes for the Italian national artistic swimming squad. According to Italian media reports, she has amassed close to 100 medals in national and international competitions.
Her standout achievements include a silver medal at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade in the technical mixed duet alongside Filippo Pelati, as well as a bronze medal at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Lima. She also finished third in the 2024 World Cup Super Final in Budapest and secured another bronze at the 2025 World Cup. This year, she received a call-up for the European Championships in Paris, serving as the primary alternate across multiple events for the Italian team.
"Competitive sports have shaped me profoundly and taught me the value of discipline, teamwork, and constantly overcoming my own limits," Rizea shared on stage.
Roots and Future Aspirations
Born in Moncalieri to a family of Romanian descent, Rizea moved to Vado Ligure at the age of 11. She began training in artistic swimming at just eight years old and earned her first national team call-up in 2021. Alongside her grueling athletic career, she graduated from high school this year and has already enrolled in university psychology studies. When asked about her ultimate goal moving forward, she replied simply: "Now, I dream of the Olympics."
