Giovanni Stampa

Giovanni Stampa began sailing at a young age in the famous Gulf of Napoli. He excelled in the dinghy class and, in his native Napoli, finished third in the 1932 Italian championship.

Stampa continued sailing various types of boats, often proving himself among the best in his city and surrounding area. He gained experience and became an expert sailor and when crews were assembled for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Italian coach Pasquale De Conciliis (also a Neapolitan) selected Stampa as a crew member of “Esperia,” in the 6-metre class.

On the waters at Kiel, despite the experience of the Oberti, the Italian boat had mixed fortunes and ultimately finished the competition in fifth place ahead of the fancied German, Dutch and USA crews. Stampa’s Olympic performance was the highlight of his sailing career.