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Edoardo MangiarottiItalian fencer
Date of Birth: 07.04.1919
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Edoardo Mangiarotti
- Early Life and Career
- Career Success
- Later Years and Retirement
- Legacy and Death
Biography of Edoardo Mangiarotti
IntroductionEdoardo Mangiarotti was an Italian fencer, widely regarded as one of the most successful and decorated fencers in the history of world sports. Born into a family of professional fencers, he was trained by his father, Giuseppe Mangiarotti, who himself was a champion fencer. Edoardo's talent and dedication led him to win numerous Olympic medals and world championship titles throughout his career.
Early Life and Career
Edoardo Mangiarotti was born into a family of professional fencers. His father, Giuseppe Mangiarotti, was a 17-time national champion in fencing. Recognizing Edoardo's potential, Giuseppe dedicated himself to training his son and even transformed him from a right-handed fencer to a left-handed fencer. Edoardo's older brother, Dario, also pursued fencing and achieved success by winning a world championship title and three Olympic medals.
At the age of 11, Edoardo became the national champion in foil fencing among juniors. He soon earned a place in the Italian senior team and participated in the 1935 World Championships. Fencing has been an Olympic sport since its reintroduction in 1896, but the modified system of electronically counting touches was introduced only in 1936. In that year, Mangiarotti won his first Olympic gold medal in the team competition for epee fencing.
Career Success
Edoardo Mangiarotti consistently demonstrated impressive and remarkably consistent results for several years. He regularly won competitions in both epee and foil fencing disciplines, with Christian d'Oriola being his only formidable opponent. The peak of his career, like his brother's, came at the 1952 Olympic Games. In the individual epee event, Mangiarotti defeated all his opponents and secured the gold medal with a remarkable winning streak of seven victories. His brother, Dario, won the silver medal, with Oswald Zappelli from Switzerland finishing between them.
In the same year, Edoardo also won the gold medal in the team epee event and two silver medals in the individual and team foil events. His brother, Dario, won the silver medal in the individual epee event and the gold medal in the team epee event. Together, the Mangiarotti brothers achieved a total of six medals, a result comparable to the famous Nadi brothers' record.
Later Years and Retirement
The 1956 Olympics did not bring as much success for Mangiarotti, but he still won two medals in the team epee and foil events. It became evident that Mangiarotti had already showcased his best performances, but he showed no signs of retiring from fencing. In the 1960 Olympics in Rome, he added another gold and silver medal to his collection, bringing his total Olympic medal count to 13 and setting a new record.
In 1961, Mangiarotti decided to retire from competitive fencing. By that time, he had established himself as the greatest saber and foil fencer in the history of the sport. Throughout his career, spanning 25 years, Mangiarotti stood on the podium of honor 39 times at the Olympics and World Championships.
Legacy and Death
Edoardo Mangiarotti passed away on May 25, 2012, at the age of 93. He left behind a legacy as one of the most successful and celebrated fencers in the world. His dedication, technique, and numerous achievements have solidified his place in the history of fencing.
