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 in 1966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Italian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 December 1945 Milan, Kingdom of Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 11 June 2021 (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 |
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Medal record
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Biography
editPigni 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
editIn 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]
Achievements
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | European Championships | 3rd | 1500 m | 4:12:00 | NR | |
| 1970 | International Cross Country Championships | 1st | 3 km | 10:38.4 | ||
| 1972 | Olympic Games | 3rd | 1500 m | 4:02:85 | [7] | |
| 1973 | World Cross Country Championships | 1st | 3.99 km | 13:45.2 | ||
| 1974 | World Cross Country Championships | 1st | 4 km | 12:42 |
National titles
editShe 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "PODIO INTERNAZIONALE DAL 1908 AL 2008 UOMINI" (PDF). sportolimpico.it. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ "Paola Pigni". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ International Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Paola Pigni (née Cacchi)". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ "Progression - Track and Field Statistics". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ "OLYMPIC GAMES MEDALLISTS - ATHLETICS (WOMEN)". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ "CAMPIONATI "ASSOLUTI" – DONNE TUTTE LE CAMPIONESSE – 1923-2016" (PDF). sportolimpico.it. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
External links
edit- Paola Pigni at the Italian Athletics Federation (in Italian)
- Paola Pigni at Olympedia
- Paola Pigni at the Italian National Olympic Committee (in Italian)