Mario Lanzi

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mario Lanzi (born October 10, 1914 in Castelletto sopra Ticino ; † February 21, 1980 in Schio ) was an Italian athlete who was successful in the 800 m in the 1930s and early 1940s . He won three medals at European Championships and Olympic Games .

Mario Lanzi was the great opponent of the German Rudolf Harbig . The duel that he delivered to Harbig on July 15, 1939 in Milan with his world record in 1: 46.6 minutes was spectacular . Lanzi had passed the first 400 m in 52.4 seconds and was still in the lead 100 m from the finish line. But then Harbig started the final sprint, which Lanzi could not follow. He was knocked off (1: 49.0 minutes) second. However, Lanzi was still running a national record during this time. In the revenge that followed 14 days later, he again lost to Harbig with 1: 49.2 minutes compared to 1: 48.7 minutes.

Also on August 12, 1939, when Harbig ran a world record over 400 m in Frankfurt am Main with 46.0 seconds , Lanzi was second in 47.2 seconds. The same course of the race could be observed here as in the world record race over 800 m in Milan: Lanzi ran at a high starting pace, but Harbig was able to "pull himself in" on Lanzi on the last 150 m and finally walk past.

During the Second World War , Lanzi met Harbig three more times. He won two of these races:

  • in Como , Italy with 1: 54.2 minutes (Harbig: 1: 54.7 minutes)
  • on June 29, 1941 in Bologna , Italy with 1: 49.0 minutes (Harbig: 1: 49.1 minutes)

In 1942 he won over 400 m at the ISTAF in Berlin .

successes

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lanzi, Mario
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian athlete
DATE OF BIRTH October 10, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Castelletto sopra Ticino
DATE OF DEATH February 21, 1980
Place of death Schio