Alberto Cova

Alberto Cova ( born December 1, 1958 in Inverigo, Como Province ) is a former Italian long-distance runner.

Cova was known for his extremely fast final sprint. His opponents were often only have a chance if they retained a high tempo from start to finish. His first success was Cova celebrate at the European Athletics Championships 1982 in Athens, where he sprinted the favored Werner Hauer shield from the GDR and to everyone's surprise won.

At the first World Athletics Championships 1983 in Helsinki Cova was not considered early, but as a medal candidate. The 10,000 - meter race in Helsinki was run slowly. 600 meters from the finish were still together 13 runners. 30 meters before the finish was Cova only in fifth place. But again, he showed his dreaded Endschnelligkeit and referred Schildhauer to second place.

The 10,000 - meter race at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles was still slower than that of Helsinki. It seemed as if no one would have learned his lesson. Because only 7 kilometers from the Finn Martti Vainio accelerated the pace, only Cova could follow him. Vainio not held by his high speed and Cova overtook him easily in the last round. Cova thus won his last international title.

The European Athletics Championships 1986 in Stuttgart Cova victim of his own tactics. His compatriot Stefano Mei overtook him on the final lap of the 10,000 -meter race. Cova never won a major race. At the Olympic Games in Seoul he already retired from the lead.

Pictures of Alberto Cova

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