Germana Malabarba was a member of the very young Italian team that won a silver medal in team gymnastics at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. She and her teammates were trained in their native Pavia by the Physical Education professor Gino Grevi, who enthusiastically accepted the idea of forming a gymnastic team, despite few resources, recruiting the best students of the city’s schools.
Germana Malabarba was only 14 years and 9 months old in 1928. The group, called Piccole Ginnaste Pavesi, was on their first trip abroad. They received congratulations from the Dutch Queen and the town of Pavia greeted them joyfully on their return. In Roma they were received personally by Duce Benito Mussolini.
Italy