Stefano Baldini

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameStefano•Baldini
Used nameStefano•Baldini
Born25 May 1971 in Castelnovo di Sotto, Reggio Emilia (ITA)
Measurements176 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsCalcestruzzi Corradini Rubiera/Corradini Excelsior Rubiera
NOC Italy
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

After disappointing results at the Atlanta Games (18th and last in the final of the 10.000 m and eliminated in the semi-finals of the 5000 m), Stefano Baldini found that his strength was in marathons, a discipline in which he started in Venice in 1995. He wasn’t in top condition at the 2000 Sydney Games and dropped out at the 18th km, whereas in Athens he obtained his greatest accomplishment, becoming the second Italian to win the Olympic marathon after Gelindo Bordin. Baldini held back from the other competitors in the main stages of the race, then attacked at the 36th km, closing the gap on the American Meb Keflezighi and the Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, reaching the Panathinaiko Stadium first. Earlier in the race, leader de Lima lost seven seconds when he was attacked and shoved to the ground by Cornelius Horan, an ex-Irish priest. In addition to his Olympic gold medal, Baldini won two European titles (1998 and 2006) and 2 World Championship bronze medals (2001 and 2003) in the marathon, a half-marathon world title (1996), six Italian titles in the 10.000 m and five in the half-marathon, in addition to winning the marathons of Rome (1998) and Madrid (2001).

Personal Bests: 5000 – 13:23.43 (1996); 10000 – 27:43.98 (1996); Mar – 2-07:22 (2006).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1996 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Stefano Baldini
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 8 h2 r2/3
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 18
2000 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Stefano Baldini
Marathon, Men (Olympic) DNF
2004 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Stefano Baldini
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
2008 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Stefano Baldini
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 12

Olympic family relations

Special Notes