Alberto Braglia

Alberto Braglia ( born March 23, 1883 in Campo Galliano, Modena, † February 5, 1954 in Modena ) was an Italian gymnast and Olympic champion.

In his childhood Braglia first practiced alone in a barn and then joined a gymnastics club with twelve years with. At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens, he was second twice, in the all around with five or six exercises. The results in Athens are not recognized by the IOC today.

At the Olympic Summer Games 1908 in London Braglia won the all-around. Like two years earlier, he did not participate in the team all-around. After the games Braglia struggled to earn a livelihood and entered into a circus as "living cannonball " on; in an accident, he broke his shoulder and some ribs.

Due to his professional activities, which included sporting elements Braglia was considered by the Italian Gymnastics Federation as a professional and therefore excluded. Time for the Olympic Summer Games in Stockholm in 1912, however, he was returned to his amateur status. He defended his Olympic title in the all around and also won the team gold medal.

In later years Braglia was a popular and successful circus performer. In 1932 he traveled to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles and coached the Italian gymnast who won surprisingly the team competition.

According to him, the Stadio Alberto Braglia is named in Modena, the home of the football club FC Modena.