Bianca AMBROSETTI

Bianca Ambrosetti was only 14-years-old when, as a member of the Italian team, she won a silver medal in the gymnastic all-around event at the 1928 Summer Olympics. She and her teammates had trained locally in their native Pavia and had few resources, but had nonetheless qualified to represent Italy at the Games. Upon their return, they were congratulated personally by Benito Mussolini. At the Games she was already suffering from tuberculosis, a disease that would claim her life a year later. Aged only 15, she holds the unfortunate distinction of being the Olympian who died the youngest, about two years younger than any other competitor. By contrast, one of her teammates, Carla Marangoni, lived over 100 years to become the last-known survivor of the 1928 Summer Games and the Olympian who lived the longest after her Olympic appearance.