Having finished ninth in Rio, the Italians will rely on their main medal contenders in fencing, track cycling, among other sports to finish higher in Tokyo.
Follow Us
With a total of 246 gold medals, Italy is the 6th most successful country in Olympic history. They are only behind the USA, the Soviet Union, China, Great Britain and France. The Italians have bagged 577 medals in total. Germany have won more medals than Italy in the total count, but due to superior gold medals, the Italians have piped them to the sixth spot. Since its first appearance in 1896 in Athens, Italy has only missed one Olympic Games. Italy’s first gold medals came at the 1900 Games in Paris, with equestrian Giangiorgio Trissino, fencer Antonio Conte, and track cyclist Enrico Brusoni all securing Olympic titles.
Italy is the most successful nation at fencing in Olympic history. They have won more gold medals (49) and total medals (125) in the sport than any other nation. Edoardo Mangiarotti claimed an overall haul of 13 medals in epee and foil, including six gold, at the Games between 1936 and 1960. Track cycling is Italy’s second most productive Olympic sport in terms of gold medals. Sante Gaiardoni is one of only four Italian track cyclists to have won two Olympic gold medals, both of which he won in 1960 Rome Games. Italy has the second-most gold medals (33) and third-most total medals (behind France and Great Britain) in the sport.
Having finished ninth in Rio Games, with a tally of 28 medals and eight golds, the Italians will look to improve on that performance in the upcoming Games. Fencing and cycling will be their main medal hopeful, but the country can also back themselves for medals in other disciplines like boxing, athletics, shooting among others. Recently, the Italian National Olympic Committee has approved two flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It is the first time the nation has designated two athletes in the position. Sports shooter Jessica Rossi and cyclist Elia Viviani have been selected for the position.
Shooting and cycling have never had an Italian athlete act as a flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony of Olympics. Rossi had won the women’s trap gold medal at London 2012 Games, while Viviani became an Olympic champion in the omnium at 2016 Rio Olympics. Besides, Rossi is a four-time world champion, whereas Viviani has won eight individual stages at the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. They both will hope to continue their recent impressive run into the Tokyo Games. Hence, a close eye will be kept on these two athletes in the Summer Games.
Italy has been a consistent performer at the Games, with many memorable years in the tournament. As far as the medal tally is concerned, Los Angeles 1932 and Rome 1960 are the country’s best outings at the Games. On both occasions they won 36 medals in total. Infact it was at the 1932 Games, they finished an impressive second with 12 gold medals to their name, which is their best finish so far in the Olympics. In 1960, they had won an extra gold with 13 in total but they could still only manage a third place finish.
The Italians have won thirteen gold medals in three other occasions as well – Antwerp 1920, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. It was in Los Angeles 1984, they won their most number of gold medals with 14. Their overall medal tally was 32 in 1984 and they finished a respectable fifth. In the last Summer Games in 2016, the Italians won a total of 28 medals, including eight gold medals to finish ninth. It was the same place they have finished in their last three Olympic Games. The Italians will be eager to build on that performance in the upcoming Games in the Japanese capital.
Fencing is the sport represented by six of Italy’s most successful Olympians. Between 1936 and 1960, Edoardo Mangiarotti won a total of 13 medals in epee and foil, including six gold. He had the most success in team epee, winning four gold medals and one silver in five Games. He also won a gold medal in individual epee in 1952 and a gold medal in men’s team foil in 1956.
Meanwhile, Valentina Vezzali’s six gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in fencing make her Italy’s second-most successful athlete overall and the most celebrated female competitor. Following her silver medal in individual foil at the 1996 Olympics, she went on to win three successive gold medals in the event between 2000 and 2008, before clinching a bronze at London 2012. She has also won three Olympic team foil gold medals.
Giorgio Zampori, an artistic gymnast, is another notable athlete from the country. Zampori won three consecutive Olympic titles in the men’s team all-around competition between 1912 and 1924, as well as gold in the individual all-around competition at Antwerp 1920.
