Luigi Beccali
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | 19 November 1907 Milan, Kingdom of Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 29 August 1990 (aged 82) Rapallo, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 63 kg (139 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Middle-distance running | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Pro Patria Milano | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Dino Nai[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Luigi Beccali (19 November 1907 – 29 August 1990) was the first Italian to win an Olympic gold medal in running, in the 1500 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics, and the first Italian to win a European Championship title in athletics.[1]
Biography[]
Born in Milan, Luigi Beccali, as a youth, was fascinated by cycling and track and field athletics, but choose the latter, when he met the coach Dino Nai.[1]
Luigi Beccali, an Italian champion in 1500 m from 1928 to 1931, became a national hero overnight when he won the Olympic 1500 m gold at Los Angeles.
In 1933, Beccali ran three world records. At first he equalled Jules Ladoumègue's world record 3:49.2, then lowered it to 3:49.0. At the end of the year he also set the 1,000 yd (910 m) world record of 2:10.0.
Beccali won the 1500 m at the first European Championships in 1934, but was outrun by Jack Lovelock at the 1936 Summer Olympics, settling for third place in 1500 m. He was again third in 1500 m at the European Championships in 1938. He also won the Italian championships from 1934 to 1938 in 1500 m and at 1935 in the 5000 m.
Beccali was originally a council surveyor, responsible for road maintenance. His work schedule allowed him to train twice a day. He eventually moved to the United States, and retired from running there in 1941, becoming a wine trader.[1]
See also[]
- Walk of Fame of Italian sport
- FIDAL Hall of Fame
References[]
- ^ a b c d Luigi Beccali. sports-reference.com
External links[]
- Luigi Beccali at World Athletics
- Luigi Beccali at European Athletic Association (archived)
- Luigi Beccali at Italian Athletics Federation (in Italian)
- Luigi Beccali at Munzinger Sports Archives (in German)
- Luigi Beccali at the Italian Olympic Committee (in Italian)
- Luigi Beccali at Olympedia
- 1907 births
- 1990 deaths
- Athletes from Milan
- Italian male middle-distance runners
- Olympic athletes of Italy
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for Italy
- Olympic bronze medalists for Italy
- World record setters in athletics (track and field)
- European Athletics Championships medalists
- Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)