Luigi Paterlini

Luigi Paterlini was an Italian 400 metre specialist who achieved his first important result at only 18-years-old, in 1942, when he finished third in the Italian Championships at Bologna won by the redoubtable Mario Lanzi. After three years with almost no activity due to the war, in October 1945 Paterlini won his first national title in 50.2. Three years later he repeated the title in Genova in 48.5, clearly beating Alfredo Marello. He never bettered the Italian record (46.7), however, set by Lanzi in September 1940, which would only be beaten in 1965.

Internationally, after struggling at the 1946 European Championships (eliminated in heats), and getting married in 1949, he won the 400 in the 1950 Milano-Paris Meeting and reached the individual final at the Brussels Europeans (placing sixth) but took a silver medal in the 4x400m relay (third leg). Between 1944 and 1950, Paterlini won 10 international caps.

Personal Best: 400 – 47.9 (1948).