Paolo Gennari

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full namePaolo•Gennari
Used namePaolo•Gennari
Born11 September 1908 in Piacenza, Piacenza (ITA)
Died29 January 1968 in Piacenza, Piacenza (ITA)
AffiliationsSC Vittorino da Feltre, Piacenza (ITA)
NOC Italy
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Paolo Gennari was an Italian rower. A member of the Vittorino da Feltre club, with Umberto Bonadé, Pietro Freschi and the stroke Cesare Rossi, he formed one of the best Italian crews between the two wars. The coxless four, nicknamed “I gazzosini”, perhaps from the fact that the boat was not inaugurated with the classic sparkling wine but with a more modest bottle of soda, was put in the water for the first time in 1927 and was composed of three firemen and a municipal clerk.

Gennari and this crew won the Italian title in 1927 and repeated each year through 1931. Internationally their brightest moment was at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics where, despite Bonadè’s health issues (three surgeries for a glandular abscess), they managed to win bronze. Upon returning to Piacenza, the quartet were carried on the shoulders of fans from the railway station to the main square.

In the following years the crew was 1929 European Champion in Bydgoszcz and won again in 1930 in Liège. Gennari also won the Gold Cup, which was awarded to those who won the Lucerne Regatta for three consecutive years.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Rowing ITA Paolo Gennari
Coxless Fours, Men (Olympic) Italy 3 Bronze