Gelindo Bordin was the first Italian to win the Olympic marathon, but he started out as a mountain cross-country runner. He made his debut in longer distances in 1984, winning the marathon in Milano. Coached by Luciano Gigliotti, he stopped working as a site manager to concentrate exclusively on running, and in 1986 he had his first international success, winning the European Championships in Stuttgart. A year later he took a bronze in the World Championship marathon in Rome. The year 1988 was a successful one for Bordin. After breaking the Italian record in Boston (4th place), he achieved his greatest victory by winning the Seoul Olympic marathon, passing Wakiihuri and Saleh in the final kilometres. He was the only white athlete to win a running competition in those Games. In 1990, he became the first Olympic champion to win the Boston marathon, breaking his own Italian record en passant. In the same season he retained his European title in Split, and just 35 days later he won the marathon of Venice. At Barcelona 1992, he tried to repeat the Olympic success, but an injury from a fall at a refreshment point forced him to withdraw after 30 km. He retired in 1993 after 18 marathons, an Olympic gold medal, 2 European titles, a bronze medal in the World Championships, and an Italian title for the half-marathon. Today he is a marketing director for Diadora, an Italian sports apparel manufacturer.
Personal Best: Mar – 2-08:19 (1990).
Italy