Andrea Benvenuti

Andrea Benvenuti followed his older sister into athletics and in 1984 won the Italian schoolboy title. In 1985 he moved to the 800 metre distance, eventually finishing fifth in that event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. A few weeks later he won the Monte Carlo meeting in 1:43.92, a personal best, and only a few hundredths off Marcello Fiasconaro’s Italian record. Benvenuti’s greatest victory came at the 1994 Helsinki European Championships, winning gold in a tactical race in 1:46.12.

Benvenuti ran for the military club Fiamme Azzurre, but after 1992 he sustained several injuries, which hampered his career. Through 2019, he remained the Italian record holder in the 1,000 metres, with a time of 2:15.76, set at Nuoro in 1992. He won his only Italian title in the 800 in 1992. From 1991-96 he won 11 international caps.

After the end of his sporting career, Benvenuti became a physiotherapist in San Marino, working with several sporting federations in the small state, including volleyball, basketball, and tennis. He was chef de mission for San Marino at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:43.92 (1992).