Luciano Negrini

Luciano Negrini’s brief rowing career saw him win Olympic silver as a cox in the Italian pairs at the 1936 Berling Games, as a result of both his commitment, and good fortune.

When Guido Santin and Almiro Bergamo found themselves together in the coxed pairs boat of Bucintoro, the Venezia club already, the club already had a successful cox. He was Gino Bettini, a four-time Italian champion and 1922 Barcelona European Championships silver medallist. Bettini presumed the position of cox was his, but Santin and Bergamo choose the 15-year-old Negrini instead.

Negrini integrated perfectly and in 1935 the trio become European champions in Berlin. The following year, Negrini’s dream continued with the Italian title, and the Olympic silver medal, again on the Berlin regatta course, in second place behind Germany.

Due to various circumstances, the Bergamo-Santin combination moved to the Querini club, and Negrini ended his competitive career. He moved with his family to Lecco and was a regular spectator at all the races that were, until the 1960s, held in his city. Negrini passed away in Lecco at the age of 92 in December 2012.