Ondina Valla

Named for the Turkish city of Trabzon, Trebisonda “Ondina” Valla was the first Italian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. She did so in an unusually close 80 m hurdles final, where the first four athletes were all clocked at 11.7 seconds. Her childhood friend and perennial rival in Italy, Claudia Testoni, came fourth in the same race. Valla was a very good all-around athlete, and won Italian titles in seven different events: 60 m (1932), 100 m (1933, 1936), 80 m hurdles (1930-1934, 1937), 4×100 m relay (1934), high jump (1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1940), standing high jump (1930) and pentathlon (1935). Her notable international results include a second place in the hurdles at the 1931 unofficial European Championships for women, and a victory in the long jump at the 1933 World University Games. She also competed in several events at the Women’s World Games of 1930 and 1934, but failed to proceed past the preliminary rounds.

Despite being plagued by injuries after her Olympic title, Valla competed at a regional level well into her 40s. Her Olympic gold medal was stolen in 1978, but she was given a replacement in 1984. In July 2019 the townhouse at the Foro Italico was dedicated in her name.

Personal Bests: 100 – 12.5 (1935); 80H – 11.75 (1936).