Silvano Abbà
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Silvano•Abbà |
| Used name | Silvano•Abbà |
| Born | 3 July 1911 in Rovinj, Istarska županija (CRO) |
| Died | 24 August 1942 in Izbushensky, Volgograd (RUS) |
| Affiliations | Scuola Centrale Militare della Farnesina, Roma (ITA) |
| NOC |  Italy |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
Silvano Abba was the first great Italian champion in the modern pentathlon, winning a bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics only a few years after the sport was recognized in Italy. He later won the first Italian national title in 1940. Abba was a military man, who led the Italian Savoy Cavalry squadron in August 1942 at the Battle of Izbushensky near Volgograd. Abba was killed, along with 700 other riders who were slaughtered by the Soviets. It is considered the last cavalry charge in military history. Abba was posthumously awarded a gold medal for military valor.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Summer Olympics | Modern Pentathlon | ITA |
Silvano Abbà | |||
| Individual, Men (Olympic) | 3 | Bronze |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War (†24 August 1942. Died heading the famed Savoia Cavalry Squadron in the "Charge of Izbušenskij" on the Russian front, the last recorded cavalry charge in the history of warfare.)