Luigi Facelli

Luigi Facelli was captain of the Italian national team, was one of the country’s finest hurdlers in the 1920s and 1930s, and was ranked amongst the world’s top 10 between 1928-35. Despite his stature (he was 1.75 m), Facelli was a top stylist and was noted for his battles with Britain’s David, Lord Burghley – between 1926-33 they met 11 times with the Italian winning six contests.

Facelli finished second to Carlo Scapin in the 400 hurdles at the national championships in 1923 and eventually won his first national title in 1928, the year he finished sixth in the Olympic final in Amsterdam. The following year he won the first of three AAAs 440 yard hurdles titles, winning again in 1931 and 1933, beating Lord Burghley into second place on two occasions. Facelli’s time of 53.4 in the first year was the fastest time for the race until beaten 1952 by Harry Whittle, and stood as a continental record until bettered by Romania’s Ilie Savel in 1956.

Facelli competed at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics (fifth), and the inaugural European Championships on home soil at Torino, finishing sixth. At Bologna in 1938 he won the Italian 400 hurdles title before quitting the sport competitively. Facelli represented Italy 30 times and in addition to his three English titles, won 15 Italian national titles, at 110 and 400 hurdles, and 400 flat, between 1924 and 1938. After retiring, he became a coach of Reyer Venezia and Pavia before a brief spell in football, as an athletic trainer at Inter Milano (1948-50). In the 2000s his hometown, Acqui Terme, named a square in his honour.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.8 (1931); 400H – 52.4 (1929).