Adolfo CONSOLINI

The youngest of five children in a farmer family, Adolfo Consolini began working in the fields as soon as he had finished primary school. His first contact with sports came in 1937, when he took part in a stone throwing demonstration. A few months later, during a Fascist Youth Movement meeting, he was spotted by Bovi, who took him under his wing and turned him into a discus thrower. By 1938 he represented Italy in the European Championships, coming fifth, and the following year he won the first of his 15 Italian titles. After World War II, during which he broke the world record (53.34) at the Giuriati club in Milan (in 1941), he won the first of his three consecutive European titles in 1946 and extended his world record to 54.23. In 1948, Consolini reached the zenith of his career with victory at the London Olympics, his throw of 52.78 seeing him finish a metre ahead of compatriot Giuseppe Tosi. After the Games he set his third and final world record, 55.33, at Milan Arena. He married Hanny, an Austrian fan of his, and found work at Pirelli, where he remained for the rest of his working life. He did not defend his crown in Helsinki, taking the silver behind American Sim Iness. He then competed in Melbourne (sixth) and also Roma where, at 43 years of age, he recited the Olympic Oath at the Opening Ceremony and finished 17th in the competition. Inbetween he finished sixth in the 1958 European Championships discus throw. Consolini ended his competitive career in 1960, but continued throwing recreationally until he was 52, throwing 43.94 in Milan. Five months later he died from a form of viral hepatitis.

Personal Best: DT – 56.98 (1955).