Enzo Cavalli

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameEnzo•Cavalli
Used nameEnzo•Cavalli
Born11 September 1937 in Gorizia, Gorizia (ITA)
Died20 September 2023 in Roma, Roma (ITA)
Measurements186 cm / 80 kg
AffiliationsFiamme Oro, Padova
NOC Italy

Biography

The first world-class Italian triple jump specialist with top speed was Enzo Cavalli. He was also a useful high jumper (1.91) and long jumper (7.415). In 1956 he recorded a windy 15.32 in Budapest, but set his first legal Italian record on the same day with 15.09. He set another five national records until his personal best of 16.10 in Warszawa on 14 June 1959, which remained the Italian record for over six years until Giuseppe Gentile posted 16.17.

Coached by Aristide Facchini, Cavalli took part in two European Championships. In 1958 he made the final but with only one valid jump (14.84) and placed 12th. Four years later he again made the final where he was 10th with 15.09, after posting 15.48 in the qualifying round. Two years earlier, Cavalli’s Olympic dreams had vanished in early May, due to a sprained ankle and a plaster cast boot and he was not in top form at the Roma Olympics. Between 1956 and 1962 Cavalli earned 21 international caps.

Domestically Cavalli won four Italian titles (1958-59, 1961-62). After his sporting career, Cavalli worked until 2002 in a technical role at FIDAL, the Italian athletics federation.

Personal Best: TJ – 16.10 (1959).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics ITA Enzo Cavalli
Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) 16 r1/2