Mario Majoni

Mario Majoni was a monumental figure in the history of the Italian water polo and was probably the first modern Italian player. Born and raised in the Liguria Region on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, he débuted in the First League in 1924 at the age of only 14. After a title won with Rari Nantes Camogli in 1935, he moved to Firenze, where he won another title in 1936. After the war he competed with the club Canottieri Olona, with whom he captured his last Italian title in 1947.

After three wins with three different clubs, Majoni was also successful on the national team. In 1947 he won the European Championships in Monte Carlo, ahead of Sweden and Belgium. One year later, he had the brightest moment of his water polo career when he took the Olympic gold medal in London with the Settebello team coached by the Olympian Giuseppe Valle.

After this victory, Majoni ended his active career and became coach of the Italian team for the 1952 Olympics, where he led them to a bronze medal. He repeated this feat two years later at the Torino European Championships. After the 1956-1964 era, where the national coach was the Hungarian Andreas “Bandi” Zolyomy, Majoni returned for the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 München Games, where Italy finished 4th and 6th respectively.

For his qualities as player and coach, Majoni was the first Italian to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1972. His technical water polo studies were for many years in the spotlight and he was always a big proponent of his sport.