Venanzio Ortis

Venanzio Ortis ( born January 29, 1955 in Paluzza, Udine ) is a former Italian long-distance runner.

At the World Cross Country Championships 1974 in Monza, he won the silver medal in the junior race. In 1976 he retired from about 5000 m in the flow at the Olympic Games in Montreal.

In 1978 he was eighth over 3000 meters at the Indoor Athletics Championships in Milan. This summer, he dominated at the European Athletics Championships in Prague on long-haul routes. In the 10,000 - meter race he won behind the Finn Martti Vainio in 27:31,5 min the silver medal. About 5000 m he won in a sprint decision in 13:28,5 min before the Swiss Markus Ryffel gold.

Due to injury, he missed the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. At the Athletics World Cup 1981, he was fourth in the 10,000 m.

Twice he was Italian champion over 10,000 m (1976, 1978) and one each about 5000 m ( 1977) and in cross country (1980). In the hall he won the national title in 1978 over 3000 m.

Even with road races he was successful: in 1978 he won the Giro di Castelbuono and the Giro al Sas 1981.

Venanzio Ortis is 1.78 m tall, weighed 64 kg in his playing days and was trained by Franco Colle. In contrast to Gehsport there was no great tradition in distance running in Italy. In this respect, Ortis was a forerunner of the great generation of the 1980s, with Salvatore Antibo, Gelindo Bordin, Alberto Cova and Francesco Panetta.

Personal Best

• 3000 m: 7:51,11 min, August 24, 1980 Caorle Hall: 7:53,1 min, February 23, 1978 Milan ( former Italian record )

• Hall: 13:39,43 min, March 10, 1982 Milan (Italian record )