Luigi Beccali

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Luigi Beccali

| image = Luigi Beccali.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = 19 November 1907

| birth_place = Milan, Kingdom of Italy

| death_date = 29 August 1990 (aged 82)

| death_place = Rapallo, Italy

| height = {{convert|1.69|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|63|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| sport = Middle-distance running

| coach = Dino Nai

| club = Pro Patria Milano

| alma_mater =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{ITA}}}}

}}

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.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/luigi-beccali-1.html |title=Luigi Beccali |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171528/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/luigi-beccali-1.html |archive-date=2020-04-17}}

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.

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.

Beccali finished third behind Reg Thomas in the 1 mile event at the British 1930 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19300705/401/0015 |title=Marathon race won by Scotsman |work=Daily Herald |date=5 July 1930 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19300707/257/0014 |title=Three new native records |work=Daily News (London) |date=7 July 1930 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 January 2025 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 January 2025 }}

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 {{convert|1000|yd|abbr=on}} 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.

References

External links

{{Sports links}}

{{Navboxes

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{{succession box|before={{flagicon|FRA}} Jules Ladoumegue|title=Men's 1,500 m World Record Holder|years=9 October 1933 – 30 June 1934|after={{flagicon|USA}} Bill Bonthron}}

{{succession box|before={{flagicon|FRA}} Jules Ladoumegue|title=European Record Holder Men's 1500m|years=9 September 1933 – 2 October 1937|after={{flagicon|HUN}} Miklós Szabó}}