Novella Calligaris
Encyclopedia
Novella Calligaris is an Italian
retired swimmer, and the first Italian swimmer to win an Olympic
medal in swimming.
Standing at 1.63 m for 50 kg, Calligaris started her Olympic career very early, obtaining her first national success at the age of 13. Despite having a short figure, she had excellent technique and very strong determination.
At 14, she set her first European record and led Italy to the Olympic podium for the first time at 1972 Summer Olympics
, bringing home a silver medal for 400 m freestyle and two bronze medals, for 800 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.
The following year, the first FINA World Championships
took place in Belgrade
. On 9 September 1973, Novella scored an impressive 8:52.97 in the 800 m freestyle event, establishing a new world record and winning a gold medal. In the same competition she also finished third in 400 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.
In the European Championships in 1974, she won two medals, one silver and one bronze. These were the last international achievements of her career, which ended shortly afterward.
She won a total of 76 Italian titles and broke 21 European records. Until Federica Pellegrini
's second place in 200 m freestyle at Athens 2004, she was the only Italian woman to obtain an Olympic medal in swimming.
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...
retired swimmer, and the first Italian swimmer to win an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medal in swimming.
Standing at 1.63 m for 50 kg, Calligaris started her Olympic career very early, obtaining her first national success at the age of 13. Despite having a short figure, she had excellent technique and very strong determination.
At 14, she set her first European record and led Italy to the Olympic podium for the first time at 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, bringing home a silver medal for 400 m freestyle and two bronze medals, for 800 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.
The following year, the first FINA World Championships
1973 World Aquatics Championships
The first FINA World Championships in Aquatics were held in the Tašmajdan Sports Centre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from August 31 to September 9, 1973.-Medal table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen- Synchronised swimming :Women...
took place in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. On 9 September 1973, Novella scored an impressive 8:52.97 in the 800 m freestyle event, establishing a new world record and winning a gold medal. In the same competition she also finished third in 400 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.
In the European Championships in 1974, she won two medals, one silver and one bronze. These were the last international achievements of her career, which ended shortly afterward.
She won a total of 76 Italian titles and broke 21 European records. Until Federica Pellegrini
Federica Pellegrini
Federica Pellegrini is an Italian swimmer. A native of Mirano, in the province of Venice, she is currently the women's 200 m freestyle and 400 m freestyle world record holder...
's second place in 200 m freestyle at Athens 2004, she was the only Italian woman to obtain an Olympic medal in swimming.