Giorgio Grilz had the unwanted distinction of being disqualified from his first ever race, after starting his competitive swimming career with the Triestina club. He competed in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in his favourite event, the 200 metres breaststroke, although he held Italian national records at 200 m butterfly and 400 m medley. He had 10 podium finishes at the National Championships and competed in the European Championship of 1950 (Wien) and 1954 (Torino). Grilz won two medals at the 1951 Mediterranean Games in Alexandria, a silver in the 3 x 100 metre medley relay, and bronze in the 200 m breaststroke. He was later an official in the Torino women’s basketball team that won three Italian titles, he was also a keen tennis player, and was a good friend of footballer Giampiero Boniperti, president of Juventus FC for more than 20 years. In 1945 Grilz was believed to be the first swimmer to perform a flip turn, which is now commonplace amongst all swimmers.
Italy