FINA has recognized China's Rio Olympic Games diving champions Chen Aisen and Shi Tingmao as Athletes of the Year in the diving category, according to a statement released by the organization in its official website on Monday.

FINA, who is the international governing body of swimming, water polo, diving, synchronized swimming, and open water swimming, paid tribute to the best athletes of 2016 during its World Aquatics Gala - "Soirée des Etoiles" that was staged in Windsor, Canada. The agency honored the best male and female competitors in each of the aquatic disciplines, with the results from Rio 2016 largely determining the outcome.

Like Us on Facebook

According to Xinhua, Chinese divers Chen Aisen, who won two gold medals in Rio, and Shi Tingmao, the recent Olympic Games winner in the 3m individual and synchro springboard, were rewarded as the best athletes in their categories for the year 2016. China's national diving coach Liu Ben was also recognized in the ceremony.

Multi-titled American swimmer Michael Phelps and Hungarian Katinka Hosszu were named as the Best Swimmers of the Year, after their spectacular performances in Rio. Phelps bagged six Olympic medals, including five gold, while Hosszu claimed three titles, breaking a world record and an Olympic record in the process.

Adam Peaty of Britain and Katie Ledecky of the United States got the best Olympic swimming performance award. Dejan Savic of Serbia and American Adam Krikorian were the respective winners in the men and women's categories of the water polo event, basing from the official website of FINA.

In the Open Water Swimming category, Dutch Olympic gold medalists Ferry Weertman and Sharon Rouwendaal came up as the winners. Synchronized swimmers Svetlana Romashina and Natalia Ishchenko of Russia got their discipline's award after winning the duet and team events in the concluded 31st Olympiad last August.

In addition, World Cup winners Gary Hunt of Britain and Lysanne Richard from Canada were recognized as the best high divers of the year. 

Tagschen aisen, Shi Tingmao, FINA, 2016 rio olympic games, michael phelps