Luigi Saidelli

{{Infobox person | image = | birth_date = {{birth date text|12 January 1939}} | birth_place = [[Trieste]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] | death_date = {{death-date and age|4 November 2023|12 January 1939}} | death_place = [[Genoa]], Italy | other_names = | occupation = Sailor }} '''Luigi Saidelli''' (12 January 1939 – 4 November 2023) was an Italian [[Sailing (sport)|sailor]] and sailboat racer who competed in the [[1964 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=sref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/luigi-saidelli-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418012932/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/luigi-saidelli-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2020|accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref>

== Life and career == Born in [[Trieste]] into a family of [[Istria]]n–[[Dalmatia]]n origins, Saidelli was the son and grandson of naval officers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Redazione |title=Luigi Saidelli e la biografia di un uomo con il senso della rotta |url=https://www.dailynautica.com/cultura/vela-luigi-saidelli-e-la-biografia-di-un-uomo-con-il-senso-della-rotta/43374/ |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=Daily Nautica |date=28 May 2019}}</ref> Graduated in Economics from the [[University of Genoa]],<ref name="das">{{cite news |last1=Scorza |first1=Angelo |title=L’ultima regata del grande velista dello shipping ligure |url=https://www.ship2shore.it/it/article/lultima-regata-del-grande-velista-dello-shipping-ligure/85603 |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=Ship2Shore |date=4 November 2023 |language=it}}</ref> in 1963 he won the [[Star European Championship]] together with [[Luigi Croce]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paulin |first1=Gino |title=Il genovese Croce e il triestino Saidelli eredi di Straulino e Rode |url=https://archive.org/details/Piccolo_1963-08-09/page/n7/mode/1up?q=saidelli |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=[[Il Piccolo]] |date=9 August 1963}}</ref> One year later, they entered the 1964 Summer Olympics, but while they were leading the race, the breakage of a seal pin prejudiced their victory.<ref name="bio" />

Saidelli competed until the age of 48.<ref name="bio" /> After his retirement, he ran a [[shipping agency]] active in Genoa and [[Savona]].<ref name="das" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Parodi |first1=Luciano |title=Lutto per la scomparsa di Luigi Saidelli: promosse le banchine del porto per le navi Costa |url=https://www.savonanews.it/2023/11/08/leggi-notizia/argomenti/cronaca-2/articolo/lutto-per-la-scomparsa-di-luigi-saidelli-promosse-le-banchine-del-porto-per-le-navi-costa.html |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=SavonaNews |date=8 November 2023 |language=it-IT}}</ref> He died for the consequences of [[pulmonary emphysema]] on 4 November 2023, at the age of 84.<ref name="bio">{{cite news |last1=Pozzo |first1=Fabio |title=Addio all’olimpico Gigi Saidelli, anche la sua ultima regata a testa alta |url=https://www.lastampa.it/mare/2023/11/05/news/addio_allolimpico_gigi_saidelli_anche_la_sua_ultima_regata_a_testa_alta-13838310/ |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=[[La Stampa]] |date=5 November 2023 |language=it}}</ref>

An Italian-language biography written by journalist and historian Bruno Cianci, entitled 'Il senso della rotta' (ISBN 9788865945988), traces the sailor's long life in details.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{sports links}} {{Footer European Champions Star}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saidelli, Luigi}} [[Category:1939 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:Italian male sailors (sport)]] [[Category:Olympic sailors for Italy]] [[Category:Sailors at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Star]] [[Category:Place of birth missing]] [[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]] [[Category:University of Genoa alumni]]