Federico Roman

The son of Antonio, an army graduate and riding instructor, Federico Roman was in the saddle by the age of 13. Seven years later he moved from Trieste to the Federal Centre of Pratoni del Vivaro near Roma under the guidance of the Italian general manager Lucio Manzin. In 1973 he won his first Italian title and defended it for the next two years.

At his first Olympic appearance in Montréal in 1976, Roman was 9th in the individual Three-Day Event, but was the top competitor four years later at the Moskva Games by virtue of his win in the individual trial and his silver medal in the team event, alongside his brother Mauro (the 1976 Italian champion), Anna Casagrande and Marina Sciocchetti. The participation of these athletes at the 1980 Olympics was contentious and opposed by the Italian Federation, who were in favour of the boycott. The technical assistance (veterinary, stable head, farrier) was, however, ensured personally by the athletes.

Roman’s endurance under a heavy rain was memorable. He repeatedly descended from the saddle, from one side of the horse to the other, without getting tired. After breaking with the leaders of the Federation for a long time, Roman returned to important competitions in 1987 and, five years later, attended his third Olympics in Barcelona in 1992.