Giovanni Leone Reggio

Giovanni Leone Reggio was an Italian sailor who started out sailing in 4-metre and 8-metre classes in French waters. He turned to the 6-metre class in the mid-1920s, competing at the 1928 Amsterdam Games in the 6-metre class at the helm of Twins II.

At the 1936 Olympic Games Reggio skippered the Italian boat Italia to a gold medal. The boat, built at the Attilio Costaguta shipyard in Genova Voltri, was launched on 20 June 1936, just under two months before the Games, and transported by train to Germany. The final result was uncertain since in the fifth race there were a series of protests, and the final decision was only reached after the end of all races, thanks to the Official Film by the German director Leni Riefenstahl, which resolved the issue. The win at the Berlin Olympics remains unique, as an Italian crew won with a boat designed and built in Italy.

Born in 1888, Reggio was one of the best Italian sailors for decades. He was Italian class champion from 1937 to 1939, on the first two occasions accompanied by his son Pietro, among others. He competed at the 1948 London Olympics in the 6-metre class, finishing eighth. Italia continued to sail the waters of the Gulf of Napoli while being moored at Molosiglio in the nautical base of the Naval League and has been recognized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage as a “historical asset”.