Claudia Testoni

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameClaudia Giuseppina Maria•Testoni (-Pedrazzini)
Used nameClaudia•Testoni
Born19 December 1915 in Bologna, Bologna (ITA)
Died17 July 1998 in Cagliari, Cagliari (ITA)
AffiliationsVenchi Unica Torino
NOC Italy

Biography

Claudia Testoni was an Italian sprinter, hurdler and long jumper. She was a multi-world record holder and European champion who had distinct eras to her career. The first was from 1929-35 when she trained with and competed against Ondina Valla. The second was from 1936-40 when she moved to the club Venchi Unica in Torino and surpassed her rival.

Extremely versatile, Testoni set Italian records in the high jump (1.54 in Torino on 27 September 1936), eight in long jump (the last with 5.65 in Paris on 8 August 1937), three in the 80 m. flat, three in the 100 m., five in the 200 m., and 11 in the 80 m. hurdles. She was first named to the national team in 1931. On 29 June 1932 at Bologna she set a world record in the standing high jump with 1.29. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics she placed fourth in the 80 metres hurdles, won by Ondina Valla. Testoni and Valla had 99 head-to-head matches between 1929 to 1940, with Valla winning 60 times, Testoni 34, and 5 ties.

In the two-year period 1938-39, Testoni was the clear world #1 in the 80 metre hurdles. She won the event at the inaugural edition of the European Championships for women in 1938, bettering the world record although it was not recognized. In 1939 she improved the world record twice – recording 11.3 at Garmisch on 23 July and at Dresden on 13 August, a mark that would stand for nine years until bettered by Dutchwoman Fanny Blankers-Koen. Domestically Testoni won 19 national titles: 60 metres (1933); 80 metres (1932); 100 metres (1932, 1937, 1940); 200 metres (1933-34); 80 m hurdles (1935-36, 1938-40), and long jump (1931-35, 1937-38). Internationally she earned 17 caps from 1931-40.

At 26 Testoni married the lawyer and former pole vaulter Edo Pedrazzini, and retired from competition. Seven years later she moved with her family to Cagliari where she died in 1998, at 82-years-old.

Personal Bests: 100 – 12.9 (1939); 80H – 11.3 (1939).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Claudia Testoni
100 metres, Women (Olympic) 5 h5 r1/3
80 metres Hurdles, Women (Olympic) 4
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Italy 4

Special Notes