Cosimo Caliandro
Encyclopedia
Cosimo Caliandro was an Italian
middle distance runner.
Caliandro was born in Francavilla Fontana
. In his first appearance on the world stage, he ran in the 1500 metres
at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
, but did not progress beyond the heats. He also competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival
that year and he won the gold medal
in the 800 metres
. His first major medal came at the 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships
, where he became the 1500 metres
champion.
As a junior athlete, he represented Italy at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
placing 100th in 2000, and improving to 68th the following year. At the 2001 European Cross Country Championships
, he came 28th overall in the men's junior race. His first participation at world senior level was a 44th place at the 2004 World Cross Country Championships
.
Caliandro was eliminated in the heats of the 3000 metres
at the 2005 European Athletics Indoor Championships, but returned two years later to win in the event final at the 2007 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham
. He represented Italy at the 2008 European Athletics Indoor Cup
, taking silver over 3000 m.
He won the Cross Della Volpe in Piedmont
and earned a spot at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships
.
He died on 10 June 2011, as a result of a motorbike accident in his native town of Francavilla Fontana, in southern Italy. He had a wife and two sons.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
middle distance runner.
Caliandro was born in Francavilla Fontana
Francavilla Fontana
Francavilla Fontana is a town and comune in the province of Brindisi . And it's also called "Imperiali Town" after the feudal lords that ruled the town from the end of 16th to 18th century.-Geography:...
. In his first appearance on the world stage, he ran in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics was the first edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 16 to July 18, 1999.-Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:...
, but did not progress beyond the heats. He also competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival, known by its initials EYOF, is a biennial multi-sport event for youth athletes from the 48 member countries of the association of European Olympic Committees. EYOF has a summer edition, held for the first time in Brussels in 1991, and a winter edition, which began...
that year and he won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. His first major medal came at the 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships
2001 European Athletics Junior Championships
The 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships was an athletics competition for athletes under-20 which was held at the Stadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini in Grosseto, Italy from 19 – 22 July 2001. A total of 44 events were contested, 22 by male and 22 by female athletes...
, where he became the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
champion.
As a junior athlete, he represented Italy at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
placing 100th in 2000, and improving to 68th the following year. At the 2001 European Cross Country Championships
2001 European Cross Country Championships
The 8th European Cross Country Championships were held at Thun in Switzerland on 9 December 2001. Serhiy Lebid took his second title in the men's competition and Yamna Belkacem won the women's race.-Men individual 9.15km:Total 77 competitors-Men teams:...
, he came 28th overall in the men's junior race. His first participation at world senior level was a 44th place at the 2004 World Cross Country Championships
2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 19-20 March 2004 in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
.
Caliandro was eliminated in the heats of the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
at the 2005 European Athletics Indoor Championships, but returned two years later to win in the event final at the 2007 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. He represented Italy at the 2008 European Athletics Indoor Cup
2008 European Athletics Indoor Cup
The 2008 European Athletics Indoor Cup was held on 16 February 2008 at the CSKA Universal Sports Hall in Moscow, Russia. It was the fourth and final edition of the indoor track and field meeting for international teams, which featured the six top performing nations from the 2007 European Cup and...
, taking silver over 3000 m.
He won the Cross Della Volpe in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
and earned a spot at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships
2010 European Cross Country Championships
The 2010 European Cross Country Championships was a continental cross country running competition that took place on 12 December in Albufeira, Portugal. It was the second time that the country hosted the event, building upon the 1997 edition held in Oeiras....
.
He died on 10 June 2011, as a result of a motorbike accident in his native town of Francavilla Fontana, in southern Italy. He had a wife and two sons.