) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 19 November 1907 Milan, 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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.svg.png "Gold medal – first place"){kind=icon}
.svg.png "Bronze medal – third place"){kind=icon}
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
- Legends of Italian sport - Walk of Fame
- FIDAL Hall of Fame
References
- ^ a b c d Luigi Beccali. sports-reference.com
External links
- Luigi Beccali at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Jules Ladoumegue | Men's 1,500 m World Record Holder 9 October 1933 – 30 June 1934 | Succeeded by Bill Bonthron |
| Preceded by Jules Ladoumegue | European Record Holder Men's 1500m 9 September 1933 – 2 October 1937 | Succeeded by Miklós Szabó |