Paola Pigni

Paola Pigni (30 December 1945 – 11 June 2021) was an Italian middle- and long-distance runner.^[1] She was a three-time world champion in cross country and held the world record over five distance running events on the track, from 1,500m to 10,000m.^[2]

Paola Pigni

Paola Pigni in 1966
Personal information
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1945-12-30)30 December 1945 Milan, Kingdom of Italy
Died	11 June 2021(2021-06-11) (aged 75) Rome, Italy
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight	55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
Country	Italy
Sport	Athletics
Event	Middle distance running
Club	Snia Milano
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	800 m: 2:01.95 (1975) 1500 m: 4:02.85 (1972)
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 0 1 European Championships 0 0 1 World Cross Country Championships 2 1 0 Universiade 1 0 0 Mediterranean Games 2 1 0 Total 5 2 2 Olympic Games 1972 Munich 1500 m European Championships 1969 Athens 1500 m International Cross Country C'ships 1970 Vichy Individual World Cross Country Championships 1973 Waregem Individual 1974 Monza Individual Universiade 1973 Moscow 1500 m Mediterranean Games 1975 Algiers 800 m 1975 Algiers 1500 m 1971 Izmir 1500 m

Biography

Pigni competed for her native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where she won the bronze medal in the women's 1,500 m.^[3]

She was the winner of the France version of the 1970 International Cross Country Championships. She followed this up by winning the first two women's titles at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 1973 and 1974.^[4]

World records

In an era when the popularity of female middle distance running was increasing, Pigni established six world records (those recognized are signed with an asterisk).^[5][6]

• 5000 m: 16:17.4 ( Formia, 1 May 1969)
• 5000 m: 15:53.6 ( Milan, 2 September 1969)
• 1500 m: 4:12.4 ( Milan, 2 December 1969)*
• 10000 m: 35:30.5 ( Milan, 9 May 1970)
• 3000 m: 9:09.2 ( Formia, 11 May 1972)
• Mile: 4:29.5 ( Viareggio, 8 August 1973)*

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time	Notes
1969	European Championships	Athens	3rd	1500 m	4:12:00	NR
1970	International Cross Country Championships	Vichy	1st	3 km	10:38.4
1972	Olympic Games	Munich	3rd	1500 m	4:02:85	[7]
1973	World Cross Country Championships	Waregem	1st	3.99 km	13:45.2
1974	World Cross Country Championships	Monza	1st	4 km	12:42

National titles

She won 19 national championships at senior level.^[8]

• Italian Athletics Championships
  • 400 m: 1965, 1967 (2)
  • 800 m: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973 (6)
  • 1500 m: 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 (4)
  • 3000 m: 1974 (1)
  • Cross country running: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974 (6)

See also

• Legends of Italian sport - Walk of Fame
• Italian all-time top lists - 1500 m
• FIDAL Hall of Fame

References

1. "The Italian middle-distance runner Paola Pigni at the Olympic Games". agefotostock.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
2. "PODIO INTERNAZIONALE DAL 1908 AL 2008 UOMINI" (PDF). sportolimpico.it. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
3. "Paola Pigni". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
4. International Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 3 April 2015.
5. "Paola Pigni (née Cacchi)". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
6. "Progression - Track and Field Statistics". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
7. "OLYMPIC GAMES MEDALLISTS - ATHLETICS (WOMEN)". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
8. "CAMPIONATI "ASSOLUTI" – DONNE TUTTE LE CAMPIONESSE – 1923-2016" (PDF). sportolimpico.it. Retrieved 28 September 2017.

External links

• Paola Pigni at the Italian Athletics Federation (in Italian)
• Paola Pigni at Olympedia
• Paola Pigni at the Italian National Olympic Committee (in Italian)