Filippo BOTTINO

While Filippo Bottino won the heavyweight weightlifting competition at the 1920 Olympics, he lost another more remarkable encounter during the Games. He had been insulted by champion fencer Aldo Nadi, and Bottino challenged him to a duel. It was fought using rather odd weapons – Nadi used a riding whip while Bottino fought using a wooden beam. The duel was decided rather soon, as Nadi immediately struck Bottino’s hand, causing him to drop the weapon. In Genova in 1922, Bottino bettered the world record in the two-armed press, bringing it to 116 kg, and becoming the first Italian to break a weightlifting world record. Bottino also won 11 Italian championships, the first in 1913 before World War I, six in the heavyweight division, and five overall titles. Additionally he won 10 titles at the Gymnastics Federation weightlifting championships.

Bottino worked in a cigarette factory and, after a short career as a gymnast, started lifting at the age of 17, placing third at the Italian Championships only one year later. At the time of his best performances he was already 34-years-old. Bottino received major honours for his brilliant career, including being appointed a Knight of the Republic, receiving the Medal of Honour for Sporting Merit, and he was made an Honorary Member of the Federation.