Stefano Mei

Stefano Mei was an Italian middle-distance runner who took up athletics as a student in 1976, and in 1978 finished third in both the Cross-country Youth Games and 3,000 metres at the Italian Student Championships. He made his international début as a junior in 1979 and went on to win Italian titles and set national records as a junior.

In 1984 Mei set his first senior Italian record of 4:58.65 for the 2,000 metres. That same year he joined the Fiamme Oro Club (military police force), and in 1986 won the silver medal in the 3,000 at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Madrid. He then broke national records for the 3,000 (7:42.85) and 1,500 (3:34.57). The highlight of his career came at the 1988 European Championships at Stuttgart, when he won the 10,000 metres ahead of the Olympic champion Alberto Cova with team-mate Salvatore Antibo in third place. Mei also won the silver medal in the 5,000 metres behind Britain’s Jack Buckner.

Physical problems then hampered Mei’s career and he bowed out from competitive running in 1994, with a 10,000 metres bronze in the 1990 Europeans at Split being his only other major international success. His career yielded eight Italian titles, winning the 1,500 in 1975; 5,000 in 1984, 1986, 1989 and 1991; and the 3,000 metres indoor title in 1985-86, and 1989. He made 42 senior international appearances between 1981-94 and, after finishing his career, worked as a sports manager. Mei became president of FIDAL, the Italian Athletics Federation, on 31 January 2021.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:34.57 (1986); 5000 – 13:11.57 (1986).