Luigi Binda

The first decathlon competition on Italian soil, which was the National Championship, took place in Milano on 23-24 September 1922 with the victory of Adolfo Contoli. Behind him came the 26-year-old Luigi Binda. Before World War I, in which he was an artillery sergeant, he was notably a sprinter and then a footballer, having been a goalkeeper from 1912-26 for F.C. Internazionale Milano, Milan, A.C. Milan, and Novara.

Luigi Binda is considered along with Contoli the first national all-round athlete, as he successfully competed in the decathlon, twice winning Italian titles (1923-24). In basketball he played with ASSI Milano with which he won the Italian men’s basketball championship in 1925. He also competed in rowing where he wore the colors of the Canottieri Milano, and also was a rugby footballer.