Adolfo Contoli

A colonel in the Italian Air Force, Adolfo Contoli was also an all-round athlete in the Virtus Bologna team. In 1922 he won a record eight titles at the Italian Athletics Championships, winning the 100 metres hurdles, pole vault (6.71), long jump (3.40), decathlon, pentathlon, and the standing high, long, and triple jumps

Between 1920-27 Contoli won 24 gold medals at the Italian Championships, making him one of the most successful Virtus club athletes ever. He was primarily a jumper and set the Italian long jump record (6.85) in 1922, and pole vault (3.71) in 1928. Contoli competed in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1924 Paris Olympics, and was the national coach at the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

In addition to being an outstanding athlete, Contoli was a good fencer and footballer and played on the right wing for Virtus Gruppo Sportivo Bolognese. After his active athletics career, he became a fitness trainer, along with Angelo Schiavio at Bologna FC.

Personal Best: Dec – 5543 (1924).