The Filippi Spirit Award is open to current university students worldwide who, through the core values of rowing, have "inspired exceptional success in other people's lives in education, business, sport or charity".

To recognise the merits of this student, a custom-made new Filippi racing eight boat will be awarded to the winner’s university rowing club.

Filippi boats are made in Italy and used by medal-winning crews throughout the world.

"For the 2016 award, we had a record number of nominations and World Rowing is always grateful to learn about the amazing rowers who show the values that we hold deeply," FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland said.

"World Rowing is proud to recognise these rowers through this Award."

Filippi Boats is one of the world’s leading rowing racing boat manufacturers based in Donoratico in Italy.

Since 1980, Filippi has produced top Olympic-class rowing boats.

They are renowned for design, top-quality materials and state-of-the-art technology combined with passion and core values that underpin their work.

For rowers in some countries, such as the United States where National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations apply, the awards will be adjusted to conform with national eligibility regulations.

Each nomination must be made by two of the nominated rower’s team-mates, supported by the rowing club and endorsed by the university.

Only one member may be nominated by each club.

Full details and the nomination form are now available here.

University rowing clubs have until November 1, 2017 to submit nominations.

Norwegian Olympic rower Nils Jakob Hoff, a medical student at the University of Bergen, won the 2016 Filippi Spirit Award.

Hoff started rowing as a 14-year-old and 14 years later became a world champion in the men’s double sculls.

He is famous for striking a Viking pose after crossing the finish line at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju in South Korea.

Disappointed to find the University of Bergen in Norway was without a rowing club, Hoff and a fellow student founded the Medical Rowing Club in Bergen with the goal of sharing the values of rowing with their fellow students.