Armando De Vincentis

Armando De Vincentiis started his career as discus thrower in 1963, coached by Carlo Vittori, who would some years later train Pietro Mennea. De Vincentiis’ rivalry with Silvano Simeon in the 1970s was memorable and reached its climax in Roma the evening of 27 May 1976 when the two athletes challenged each other with two Italian records, with De Vincentiis first with 64.48 and Simeon second with 65.10. Domestically, de Vicentiis won 5 Italian titles, in 1975-76, 1978, and 1980-81.

He took part twice in the Olympic Games. In 1972 he was eliminated in the qualifying round while, four years later, he won his qualifying group with 62.26. The following day, however, he could not repeat this feat and finished 15th and last with only 55.86 m.

Over his career, de Vincentiis won two consecutive gold medals at the Mediterranean Games in 1975 (61.26 ahead of Simeon’s 59.52 m.) and 1979 (57.96 with Simeon 3rd), while at the European Championships, he was 7th in Roma 1974 with 59.68 (ahead of the eventual Olympic silver medal Wolfgang Schmidt) and eliminated in the qualifications in 1971 and 1978. Between 1969-1983 he won 48 international caps.

Personal Best: DT – 64.48 (1976).