ItalyBiography
Italian sprint great, world record holder, Olympic champion.
He established a 20-year long successful career between 1968-88, competed in five Olympic Games, won every important title in athletics except World Champs. Started athletics in local club AVIS Barletta at age of 16, then became national sprint champion in 1971. Same year, he won his first important title in Mediterranean Games in Izmir as won 200 metres by breaking games record. In Munich, he stood on Olympic podium as 200m bronze medallist.
Mennea was a prominent figure in European Championships in his homeland, Rome 1974. He won 200 metres in Rome, but lost 100 metres title to Olympic Champion Valery Borzov.
Italian sprint sensation made his name especially in Universiade competitions. Captured total five Universiade gold, one of them is so special: He broke 200 metres world record in Mexico City's high-altitude Olympic Stadium with 19.72 (+1.8). This outstanding mark amazed everybody in athletics and catapulted his name amongst the legends. He proved once again 200 metres superiority by taking Olympic gold in Moscow, became the only second Italian to win it after Livio Berrutti.
After Olympic glory, he continues to compete until 1988, attended two more Olympics. After retirement, he became the most contested male athlete in Olympic history with 33 starts in five Olympics. In 1990s, he worked as a lawyer for years then elected to the Italian Parliament, also member of the European Parliament.
Pietro Mennea died in 2013 from pancreatic cancer in age of 60.
PERSONAL BESTS
100m: 10.01 (0.9), Mexico City 1979
200m: 19.72 (1.8), Mexico City 1979
300m: 32.23, Rieti 1979
400m: 45.87, Formia 1977
60m indoor: 6.68, Genoa 1976
200m indoor: 20.74, Genoa 1976
TRIVIA
♦ For his legacy, a speed train owned by Italian Railways named after him.
♦ He admitted once he used human growth hormone in his career in a late interview.
♦ Rome's famous athletics meeting renamed after 2013 edition as Pietro Mennea Golden Gala.
♦ Coached by Carlo Vittori, 1952 Olympian.
♦ In his farewell Olympics in Seoul, became the flagbearer of Italy in the opening ceremony.