Artistic swimmer Sarah Rizea wins Miss Italia 2026 crown at Santa Severa Castle

Victory at Santa Severa Castle

Eighteen-year-old artistic swimmer Sarah Maria Rizea was crowned Miss Italia 2026 on Monday evening, 21 September 2026, at Santa Severa Castle north of Rome. The finale was presented by television host Giulia Salemi alongside pageant patron Patrizia Mirigliani. Rizea, who entered the competition with the Miss Liguria title after previously winning Miss Eleganza in Ospedaletti, took first place among 16 finalists evaluated by four entertainment industry coaches. Michela Meli, a 21-year-old food science student representing Lazio, finished in second place, while 20-year-old high school student and Serie B volleyball player Sara Genova from Calabria placed third. Following the verdict, Rizea addressed reporters to dedicate the result to her family.

“To my family here, who supported me right from the beginning. And to that part of my family living in Romania.”

Athletic career and international medals

Rizea balances her public appearances with competitive artistic swimming, having started the sport at age eight with Aquatica Torino. She currently trains with Rari Nantes Savona and is signed to Fiamme Oro, the sports club of the Italian State Police, while representing the Italian national team following her first call-up in 2021. Over her competitive career, Rizea has collected approximately 100 medals across regional, national, and international events. Her international achievements include a silver medal in the technical mixed duet alongside Filippo Pelati at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade, a bronze medal at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Lima, and World Cup podiums in Budapest and Somabay. In 2026, she served as the first reserve for Enrica Piccoli and Lucrezia Ruggiero at the European Championships in Paris, and she maintains an ambition to compete at the Olympic Games.

Early life and family background

Born on 8 November 2007 in Moncalieri in the Piedmont region, Rizea relocated to Vado Ligure in the province of Savona at the age of 11 in 2019. Her parents are of Romanian descent; her father Marian works as a door and window installer, while her mother Alina works at the immigration desk of the Savona police headquarters. Rizea lives with her parents and her 15-year-old sister Karina, while her grandparents remain in Romania, where she last visited within the past year. In the summer of 2026, the 1.72-metre-tall competitor completed her secondary education at a linguistic high school and subsequently enrolled in psychological sciences and techniques at Unimarconi University.

Regional and institutional reactions

Swimming officials and regional administrators in Liguria responded to the coronation by emphasizing the discipline behind her aquatic background. Alessandro Martin, president of the Italian Swimming Federation in Liguria, commended her dual commitment to athletics and the stage.

“Sarah is not just the new Miss Italia; she is one of our own, a synchronized swimmer shaped by the discipline and quiet sacrifices that artistic swimming demands every day.”

Luca Lombardi, the regional tourism councilor for Liguria, similarly attributed her performance to the training demands of competitive athletics.

“Sarah embodies talent, commitment, and determination, qualities she has cultivated through sport and the sacrifices required by high-level competitive athletics.”