Mario Lanzi
NationalityItalian
Birth date10 October 1914
Birth placeCastelletto sopra Ticino, Italy
Death date21 February 1980 (aged 65)
Death placeSchio, Italy
Height1.80 m
Weight76 kg
Pb
  • 400 m: 46.7 (1939)
  • 800 m: 1:49.0 (1939)
CountryItaly
SportAthletics
EventMiddle-distance running
ClubG. S. Baracca

Mario Lanzi (10 October 1914 – 21 February 1980)[1] was an Italian athlete in the 1930s who specialised in the 800 metres and also competed over 400 metres.

Biography

Lanzi was born at Castelletto sopra Ticino, in the province of Novara (Piedmont).

He won the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin over 800 m, finishing behind John Woodruff. In his native Italy Lanzi was without any serious rival. However, Lanzi lost the 800 m final at the 1938 European Championships in Athletics to Rudolf Harbig. Lanzi was famous for confusing his opponents by starting 800 m races like a sprinter.[citation needed]

Lanzi died at Schio (Veneto), where he had worked as coach, in 1980.

National titles

Lanzi won 13 individual Italian national championship titles,[2] 5 at 400 metres and 8 at 800 metres.

  • 400 metres: 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943
  • 800 metres: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1946

References

  1. ^ "Mario Lanzi". Archived 2020-04-17 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ ""CAMPIONATI “ASSOLUTI" ITALIANI SUL PODIO TRICOLORE – 1906 2012". sportolimpico.it. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.