Vera Martelli

Vera Martelli took up athletics at 16 and joined the national team in September 1948 when the Italy-Hungary match took place and in 1950 she competed in the European championships in Brussels. Her constant improvement enabled her to qualify for the 1952 Italian Olympic team, where she ran the 200 metres in Helsinki, but was eliminated in the heats. Martelli helped break the Italian 4x200 record three times and she was a five-time Italian champion in the 4x100 relay with Cestistica Bologna (1948-52). She won seven international caps between 1948 and 1952 under the guidance of her father and coach Luciano, who had also been a fine sprinter in his youth. She retired from athletics after she married Cesare Alvergna, and the pair had four children: Stefano, Daniela, Paola and Annalisa.

Personal Best: 200 – 26.1 (1952).