Filippo Tortu Italian sprinter Date of Birth: 15.06.1998 Country: Italy

1. Jacopo Tortu: Italy's Olympic Sprint Sensation
2. Early Career
3. International Success
4. Breaking Records and Winning Titles
5. World Medalist
6. Tokyo 2020
7. Legacy

Jacopo Tortu: Italy's Olympic Sprint Sensation

Jacopo Tortu is an Italian sprinter who made history at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Born in Milan on June 15, 1998, Tortu is the son of a former sprinter who instilled in him a love for track and field.

Early Career

Tortu began his athletic journey at the tender age of eight. Initially, he divided his time between basketball and athletics. In 2010 and 2011, he emerged as the fastest runner in Milan in the prima media and seconda media categories.

Under the guidance of his father, Tortu dedicated himself solely to athletics. His breakthrough came in 2013 when he won the 80 meters at the Italian Championships in Jesolo with a time of 9.09 seconds.

International Success

In 2014, Tortu made his international debut at the European Youth Olympic Trials. Despite not qualifying in the 100 meters, he demonstrated his potential with a third-place finish. However, his dream of competing in the 200 meters was shattered when he suffered a broken arm in a fall during the preliminary heat.

Undeterred, Tortu bounced back in 2015 by setting Italian youth records in the 100 meters (10.33 seconds) and 200 meters (20.92 seconds).

Breaking Records and Winning Titles

The year 2016 proved to be a pivotal one for Tortu. He broke the Italian junior record in the 100 meters twice, clocking 10.24 seconds in Savona. This feat surpassed a record that had stood for 34 years.

In August 2016, Tortu claimed his first Italian title in Rieti, winning the 100 meters with a time of 10.32 seconds. He also made history at the European Championships in Amsterdam by setting a new Italian youth record of 10.19 seconds in the semi-finals.

World Medalist

At the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Tortu won the silver medal in the 100 meters, finishing behind American Noah Lyles. He also competed in the 4x100 meter relay, where he helped Italy finish seventh.

Tokyo 2020

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Tortu represented Italy in the men's 100 meters. He reached the semi-finals but narrowly missed out on a spot in the final.

Tortu's true triumph came in the 4x100 meter relay. He ran the second leg and, along with his teammates, edged past Great Britain by one hundredth of a second to secure Italy's first Olympic gold in this event.

Legacy

Jacopo Tortu has established himself as one of Italy's most promising track and field athletes. His Olympic gold and world-class performances have made him a national icon and a role model for aspiring sprinters.