Giorgio Lalle

A breaststroke specialist, Giorgio Lalle was one of the best Italian swimmers in the second half of the 1970s. Coached by Costantino Dennerlein, he was an Olympic finalist at Montréal in 1976, after barely qualifying for the semifinals. He also placed seventh in medley relay with the Italian team at Montréal. The boycott of the 1980 Olympics, and his military status with Fiamme Oro (Police), prevented him from taking part in the Moskva Olympics and, disappointed by this, he retired from competition.

Lalle’s best result in the international arena was the silver medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 1977 European Championships at Jönköping, Sweden. He participated in the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin but did not reach the final. His international début took place in Wien (Vienna) at the 1974 European Championships, where he was brought in at the last minute after earning qualification in the 200 breaststroke during an international youth match against East Germany. He repaid the coaches’ trust in him with an excellent performance, placing sixth in the final of the 200 breaststroke and also swam in the medley relay, which finished fifth.

Lalle overtook his Italian rival Giancarlo Mauro in 1975 and was the undisputed top Italian specialist until the end of the 1970s. He won a total of 23 national titles and improved the Italian record for the 100 breaststroke eight times and the 200 metre breaststroke 11 times. After his competitive swimming days, Lalle served as an auditor of FIN (Federazione Italiana Nuoto), the Italian Swimming Federation, in the 2000s.