Italy at the 1896 Summer Olympics

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Italy at the
1896 Summer Olympics
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
IOC code ITA
NOC Italian National Olympic Committee
Website www.coni.it  (in Italian)
in Athens, Greece
April 6, 1896 – April 15, 1896
Competitors5 in 4 sports and 5 events
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

Italy competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics, in Athens, Greece, from 6 to 15 April 1896. The delegation consisted of five athletes competing in four sports and five events. However, Giuseppe Rivabella was the only one to able to compete. This was because one other competitor, Carlo Airoldi, was disqualified due to him receiving prize money in athletics events and him therefore not being an amateur. The others all did not start. Italy did not win any medals during the Athens Olympics.

Contents

Background

1896 was the first modern Olympic games and hence the appearance of Italy at the Athens Summer Olympics marked their first Olympic appearance. [1] It took place from 6 to 15 April 1896. [2] Italy did not win an Olympic medal at these Games. [3] The delegation consisted of five athletes competing in four sports and five events. There were also supposed to be four others, but none of them started. However, Giuseppe Rivabella was the only one able to compete. [4]

Competitors

Airoldi in 1896 Carlo Airoldi.jpg
Airoldi in 1896

Out of the five athletes Rivabella was the only one able to compete. [4] He was an Italian civil engineer, who worked in Athens and on Samos Island. While working on Samos, the locals described a “well-made thing” as a “ripabella” after him. [5] Carlo Airoldi, a marathon runner, was disqualified due to him receiving prize money in athletics events and him therefore not being an amateur. He had walked to Athens from Milan for over 2000 kilometres. He did this because he was not able to pay for transport. Airoldi appealed because his prize money was not for winning, but for carrying one other runner to the end of the race as he was hurt. The money give was to pay for a train ride back to his home city and was as a reward for his help. [6] Angelo Porciatti, full name Angelo Pietro Giuseppe Porciatti, was a cyclist who was also unable to compete, he was born on 1 July 1872 to a noble Lombard family. [7] [8] Giuseppe Caruso and Vincenzo Baroni were two fencers, both of whom did not start. [9] [10]

SportMenWomenTotal
Athletics 101
Cycling 11
Fencing 22
Shooting 11
Total505

Athletics

Airoldi did not start in the men's marathon event, as he was disqualified for not being an amateur. [6]

AthleteEventTimeRank
Carlo Airoldi Men's marathon DNS

Cycling

Porciatti was due to participate in the men's road race on 12 April, which was from Athens to Marathon and back, but did not start.

AthleteEventTimeRank
Angelo Porciatti Men's road race DNS

Fencing

Caruso was due to compete in the men's foil event on 7 April, [11] and the men's sabre event on 9 April, however he did not start in either. Baroni was to participate in the same events but also did not start. [11] [12]

AthleteEventTimeRank
Giuseppe Caruso Men's foil DNS
Men's sabre
Vincenzo Baroni Men's foil
Men's sabre

Shooting

Rivabella competed in the 200 metre military rifle event, on 9 and 10 April and in Kallithea. He placed somewhere between 14th and 19th place, with a score less than 845. [5]

AthleteEventHitsScoreRank
Giuseppe Rivabella 200 m military rifle UnknownUnknown14–19

References

  1. "Olympedia – Italy (ITA)". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  2. "Olympedia – 1896 Summer Olympics Overview". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  3. "Olympedia – Italy at the 1896 Summer Olympics". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  4. 1 2 "Olympedia – Italy at the 1896 Summer Olympics". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  5. 1 2 "Olympedia – Giuseppe Rivabella". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  6. 1 2 "Olympedia – Carlo Airoldi". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  7. "PORCIATTI Angelo". www.coni.it. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  8. "Olympedia – Angelo Porciatti". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  9. "Olympedia – Giuseppe Caruso". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  10. "Olympedia – Vincenzo Baroni". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  11. 1 2 "Olympedia – Foil, Individual, Men". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  12. "Olympedia – Sabre, Individual, Men". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.