Luigi Cimnaghi

Luigi Cimnaghi took his first steps as a gymnast in his hometown of Meda with the Forza e Virtù club in the 1950s. In 1962 he was called up to the national team, and represented them at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Cimnaghi was the national parallel bars champion in three consecutive years 1964-66, and on the pommel horse in 1965 and 1966. At international level, he shone at the Mediterranean Games, winning team gold in 1963 and 1967, as well as individual silver on horse and parallel bars in 1967, the year in which he also added bronze on the bars and also in the individual general competition at the same Games.

Away from gymnastics, Cimnaghi became technical director of the men’s national team in 1977, a position he held for four years. He then became an administrator, which saw him recognised for his international knowledge of the sport, as well as his managerial skills.

Cimnaghi was firstly involved with the Research and Experimentation division of the Italian Federginnastica in 1981. He then became general secretary from 1985-97, concluding his post shortly after Jury Chechi won the historic gold at the Atlanta Olympics. Cimnaghi was also called upon to hold international posts. He was in charge of the men’s technical committee of the European Gymnastics Union 1984-89 and was a member of the executive committee 1989-94. Because of his ability, Cimnaghi also enjoyed roles of responsibility at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.