Luciano DE GENOVA

Luciano De Genova was an Italian weightlifter. He began the activity when, immediately after World War II, he joined the Gruppo Sportivo of Bogliasco under the guidance of top coach Domenico Ivaldi. This coach, also a famous bookseller in his city, gave the opportunity for many boys in the area to take part in various sporting activities.

De Genova soon enjoyed some good results and won the 1948 Leva del Pesista, organized by Centro Sportivo Italiano (CSI) and in 1950 he took first place at the Galimberti Trophy in Taormina, indicating what a champion he would likely become.

In 1951 De Genova took the Italian lightweight title (the division he would lift in throughout his career). He went on to win 10 more national titles. In the history of Italian weightlifting only four men Carlo Galimberti, Sebastiano Mannironi, Attilio Bescapé and Alberto Pigaiani, have won more titles.

Internationally, De Genova's finest result was in finishing second at the 1958 World Championships in Stockholm with a total of 362.5 kg. He also won two European Championship silver medals, at München in 1955 and Stockholm in 1958. He also won a bronze at Helsinki 1956. De Genova competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games but, following a series of unfortunate circumstances, was way off winning a medal.

De Genova's career spanned 1948-65 and he won many honours within the sport. The Italian Weightlifting Federation awarded him their gold medal in 1955. The city of Bogliasco awarded him the gold medal in sports merit and in 1960 he was honoured with the title of Knight of the Italian Republic and was made a member of the Association Azzurri d’Italia. Married to Giuliana, De Genova died in November 2019 at the age of 88.