Marcello Fiasconaro (born July 19, 1949) is an Italian-South African athlete, who in 1973 set a world record in the 800 m.

Contents 1 Life 2 World Record 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Life

Fiasconaro was born at Cape Town, in South Africa, to parents of Italian origin, and there he spent his youth. He began his career as a sportsman playing rugby in his native country, and later started to practice athletics.

In 1970, as he was already amongst the fastest 70 men in the world, he accepted the Italian nationality and started to race for the Italian Athletics Federation. He obtained a world record in 800 m. in 1973.

After suffering physical problems, he returned to live in South Africa.

[edit] World Record

In 1971, with 45.7, he set the new Italian record and won the title of Italian Champion: in this period Fiasconaro spoke very little Italian and needed an interpreter to communicate.

In the same year he won a silver medal in the 400 m at the European Championship of Helsinki. His time of 45.49 was beaten in Italy only in 1981. He also gained a bronze medal in the 4x400 m relay. In 1972 he set an indoor world record in the 400 m with 46.1 seconds.

The most outstanding moment in Fiasconaro's career came on June 27, 1973, in Milan. On this date he set a new world record in the 800 m. The time of 1:43.7 was beaten at world level three years later (see, for example, Matti Hannus, "Montreal Olympic Book" / Montreal Olympiakirja, published in Finland in 1976), but it is to date still the Italian record: is this currently the most long-lived Italian athletics record of every genre. Fiasconaro was a favourite to win the 800-metre European Championship in Rome in 1974. After leading for over 600 metres at a fast pace, he tired out, was quickly passed by the surprise winner, Yugoslavia's Luciano Susanj, and on the home straight dropped to seventh place ^[1]. After an indoor world title, Fiasconaro moved to playing rugby in Milan for several seasons before movng back to South Africa in 1978.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Sport in Italy

[edit] External links

• Fiasconaro in Italian sport history of 1970s

Records
Preceded by Peter Snell Ralph Doubell Dave Wottle	Men's 800 metres World Record Holder 1973-06-27 – 1976-07-16	Succeeded by Alberto Juantorena
Preceded by Pekka Vasala	European Record Holder Men's 800m 27 June 1973 - 4 July 1979	Succeeded by Sebastian Coe

v • d • e World Best Year Performance in Men's 800 m  1970: Ken Swenson (USA)  •  1971: Dicky Broberg (RSA)  •  1972: Dave Wottle (USA)  •  1973: Marcello Fiasconaro (ITA)  •  1974: Rick Wohlhuter (USA)  •  1975: Mike Boit (KEN)  •  1976 – 1977: Alberto Juantorena (CUB)  •  1978: Olaf Beyer (GDR)  •  1979: Sebastian Coe (GBR)  •  1980: Donald Paige (USA)  •  1981: Sebastian Coe (GBR)  •  1982 – 1983: Steve Cram (GBR)  •  1984 – 1985: Joaquim Cruz (BRA)  •  1986: Steve Cram (GBR)  •  1987: Billy Konchellah (KEN)  •  1988: Johnny Gray (USA)  •  1989: Paul Ereng (KEN)  •  1990: Peter Elliott (GBR)  •  1991: José Luíz Barbosa (BRA)  •  1992: Johnny Gray (USA)  •  1993: Nixon Kiprotich (KEN)  •  1994: Benson Koech (KEN)  •  1995 – 1997: Wilson Kipketer (DEN)  •  1998: Japheth Kimutai (KEN)  •  1999: Wilson Kipketer (DEN)  •  2000: André Bucher (SUI)  •  2001: Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS)  •  2002: Wilson Kipketer (DEN)  •  2003 – 2005: Wilfred Bungei (KEN)  •  2006 – 2007: Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA)  •  2008: Abubaker Kaki Khamis (SUD)