Carlo Airoldi

Carlo Airoldi ( born September 21, 1869 in Origgio, † June 18, 1929 in Milan ) was an Italian marathon runner who is famous for his futile attempt to participate in the Olympic Games in 1896. The road from Milan to Athens, he had traveled on foot.

Airoldi was born into a peasant family in Origgio, near Saronno. He started as a runner at sporting competitions in the area of ​​Varese participate.

In 1892 he won a race from Lecco to Milan, followed by a win Milan -Turin. He soon became known, and was one of the best marathon runners of his time. His biggest success was a victory in a race from Milan to Barcelona in September 1895, a competition in twelve stages, a total of more than 1,050 kilometers. This victory earned him a 2000 pesetas.

The Olympic Games

Airoldi wanted to participate in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens and had good chances to win. However, he needed money to get to Athens.

He suggested to the director of the then-known magazine La Bicicletta, cheap to travel and get the money from the magazine: He would walk through Austria, Turkey and Greece - an adventurous journey in which he had to work every day to travel 70 km order in time to arrive in Athens. The magazine should document all stages of the journey and help him to obtain the necessary information.

The magazine accepted, and began his journey. In the stage from Milan to Split, Trieste and Fiume by, there were no problems. Airoldi had to walk in front, on the Croatian coast and then through Kotor, Corfu. However, he fell short of Dubrovnik and injured his hand so that he was forced to stay two days in a tent. He should not run through Albania, so he embarked on an Austrian boat that brought him to Patras. From there, he ran the absence of roads to the railroad tracks along further to Athens.

After his 28- day trip, however, Airoldi could not participate in the marathon. He went to the royal palace, to register for the games. There he was asked by the chairman of the Olympic Committee, which held that the money got Airoldi for winning the race from Milan to Barcelona, ​​meant that he was no amateur. Therefore, he should not take part in the Olympic Games. From Italy telegrams were sent, but it did not help: Airoldi was not allowed to participate. In Italy, was outraged that the organizers of a strong competitor not allowed to participate in a race that wanted to win the Greeks. Airoldi accepted the decision and never called Spyridon Louis, the winner of the marathon, out. This race, however, never took place.

Later years

After he returned home, tried many times unsuccessfully Airoldi to break Spyridon Louis ' record. Then he ran in Lombardy and Switzerland, where he married and later worked in Bern and Zurich. Finally, he moved to South America, but later returned to Europe.

Carlo Airoldi died on June 18, 1929 in Milan.

Bibliography

• Manuel Sgarella: La leggenda del Maratoneta. Macchione Editore, Varese 2005, ISBN 8,883,402,308th

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