Tullio Pizzorno

Tullio Pizzorno was an Italian sailor who began his international career after he turned 30, winning the 1958 Monte Carlo Snipe event. His best years were 1959 and 1960. In 1959 he won the Flying Dutchman World Championship in Whitstable (England) with Mario Capio, and also won international regattas in Muiden (Netherlands) and Newport, Rhode Island (USA).

In 1960, before the Games, the Pizzorno / Capio team proved to be a serious contender for gold, winning international regattas in Barcelona, the pre-Olympic event in San Remo, repeating at Monte Carlo, and winning the national championship in Piombino. But they struggled in the Gulf of Napoli, not finishing the first race, and then being disqualified in race four, which cost them any chance at a medal.

After ending his competitive career, Pizzorno demonstrated his keen interest in the Flying Dutchman class, promoting it to young sailors. He was awarded a Gold Medal by the Italian Olympic Committee for his sailing achievements. Since 1989 the Tullio Pizzorno Trophy for the 420 class has been awarded by the city of Priaruggia (near Genova), managed by Mrs. Anna Pizzorno in her husband’s memory.