Novella Calligaris

Novella Calligaris

Personal information
Full name	Novella Calligaris
Nationality	Italy
Born	27 December 1954 (1954-12-27) (age 56) Padua
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	Freestyle and medley
Medal record Women’s swimming Competitor for  Italy Olympic Games Silver 1972 Munich 400 m freestyle Bronze 1972 Munich 800 m freestyle Bronze 1972 Munich 400 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 1973 Belgrad 800 m freestyle Bronze 1973 Belgrad 400 m freestyle Bronze 1973 Belgrad 400 m medley European Championships Silver 1974 Vienna 800 m freestyle Bronze 1970 Barcelona 800 m freestyle Bronze 1974 Vienna 400 m freestyle Mediterranean Games Gold 1971 Izmir 400 m freestyle Gold 1971 Izmir 200 m medley

Novella Calligaris (born 27 December 1954 in Padua) is an Italian retired swimmer, and the first Italian swimmer to win an Olympic medal in swimming.

Standing at 1.63 m for 50 kg, Calligaris started her Olympic career very early, obtaining her first national success at the age of 13. Despite having a short figure, she had excellent technique and very strong determination.

At 14, she set her first European record and led Italy to the Olympic podium for the first time at 1972 Summer Olympics, bringing home a silver medal for 400 m freestyle and two bronze medals, for 800 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.

The following year, the first FINA World Championships took place in Belgrade. On 9 September 1973, Novella scored an impressive 8:52.97 in the 800 m freestyle event, establishing a new world record and winning a gold medal. In the same competition she also finished third in 400 m freestyle and 400 m individual medley.

In the European Championships in 1974, she won two medals, one silver and one bronze. These were the last international achievements of her career, which ended shortly afterward.

She won a total of 76 Italian titles and broke 21 European records. Until Federica Pellegrini's second place in 200 m freestyle at Athens 2004, she was the only Italian woman to obtain an Olympic medal in swimming.

See also

• List of Swimmers

References

• Kubatko, Justin. "Novella Calligaris Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/novella-calligaris-1.html. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 
• Biography of Novella Calligaris at the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• Biography of Novella Calligaris at the Italian National Olympic Committee (Italian)

Persondata
Name	Calligaris, Novella
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	27 December 1954
Place of birth	Padua
Date of death
Place of death