Giovanni Liverzani

A member of the Milano Shooting Club, Giovanni Liverzani was one of the best Italian pistol shooters ever. He won his first Italian title in rapid-fire pistol in 1961. In 1962 he took part in the World Cup in Cairo and won a bronze medal with the team. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he finished 31st in rapid-fire pistol, also winning the Italian masters title that year. He was second at the Italian championships in 1965-67. In 1968 he was eighth at the Mexico City Olympics and in 1969 he won the European championship in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.

In 1970 Liverzani reached his apex by winning the world title in Phoenix, Arizona, with 598/600, setting a world record, while adding a bronze in the team event. In 1972 he won his sixth and last Italian title, then competed at his third Olympics in München, where he finished sixth. He retired from competition in 1974, becoming head coach of the rapid-fire pistol for the Italian team for a few years and continuing his work as an insurance expert.