ItalyBiography
Italian race walking legend. Olympic champion.
He contested four Olympics, won three medals (one gold, two bronze) and finished fourth in the last appearance in 1992 Barcelona. One of the highlights of his illustrious career came in Rome Olympic Stadium in 1987 World Champs. He clocked 1:20:45 to struck gold in front of the home crowd, 22 second clear of his Czech opponent Pribilinec. Four years later, he won another world title in humid conditions in Tokyo to crack first time 1:20 barrier at the World Champs.
He won nearly all big championships even the indoors, because earlier editions of indoor champs included indoor walking races on the timetable at that time.
Maurizio Damilano is still the only male athlete to have three-peat for an athletics event at the Mediterranean Games with his 1983-91 winning series.
He has 21Italian race walking titles during his career from 3000m (indoor) to 50 kilometers.
PERSONAL BESTS
10,000mW: 39:05.80 (Limbiate 1988)
20kmW: 1:18:54 (La Coruna 1992)
50kmW: 3:46:51 (Pomigliano 1990)
TRIVIA
♦ Twin brother, Giorgio, also a walker. Together with him, unveiled 'Fit Walking' programme.
♦ Awarded a high-serving order of merit of Italia in 1992.
♦ Weight/height during active career: 70kg/1.85m
♦ Included Torino 2006 Winter Olympics LOC team.
♦ In December 2015, his plaque was placed in Rome Olympic Stadium Walk of Fame path alongside Italian sports legends.