Carlo Galimberti grew up as the son of Italian immigrants in Rosario de Santa Fe, Argentina. In his youth, he tried various sports, especially football, but then focused on weightlifting. After World War I, the family returned to Italy. In 1928, he was the Italian flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony and he won three Olympic medals – gold in 1924 and silvers in 1928 and 1932. Galimberti set five middleweight world records from 1924-28 – one in the press, one in the clean & jerk, and three in the total. He was runner-up at the 1930 and 1931 European Championships. From 1921-39 he also won 18 consecutive national titles, 13 as a middleweight and 5 as a light-heavy. Galimberti was a professional firefighter and died in 1939 following burns he suffered during the explosion of a boiler.
On 19 April 1940 the director of the fire services, Alberto Giombini, posthumously awarded Galimberti the rank of Marshal. Throughout his career Galimberti competed for G.S. Pompieri of Milano, (the National Sports Group of the Fire Brigade) and was a member of their team that won the first National Championship for Clubs in 1934. In 1942 the Italian Weightlifting Federation named the Propaganda Trophy in his honour, and in 2005 the same federation named the hundredth national championship in his honour. In 1954 the city of Bollate named a street after him, and on the plaque it is inscribed: “Via Carlo Galimberti / Olimpionico / Medaglia d’argento al valor civile”. (Carlo Galimberti Street / Olympian / Civil valour silver medallist). It was a just reward for a man who honoured Italian sport and was an example of high civic virtues.
Italy