Laura Nappi

From 1970-76 Laura Nappi was 12 times an Italian athletics champion in six disciplines. Four of her titles were in individual events, the 200 metres (1972-74) and long jump (1976). Her other eight titles were with her team Libertas San Saba of Roma. She won the 4 x 100 metres relay (1970 and 1973), 4 x 200 m (1970, 1973-74), 4 x 400 m (1971) and twice in the unusual 3 x 1 lap indoor relay (1972-73).

Nappi competed in both the 100 metres at the 1972 Olympics, where she was eliminated in the quarter-finals, and the 4 x 100 relay, in which Italy did not advance beyond the heats. At the European Championships at Roma two years later, she was eliminated in the heats of the 100 and 200 and finished seventh in the sprint relay with a new national record 44.56 alongside Maura Gnecchi, Adriana Carli and Cecilia Molinari. Nappi’s only international medals came at the Mediterranean Games. She won the sprint relay gold with Molinari, Ongar and Maddalena Grassano at the 1971 Games and four years later added a bronze, this time with Gnecchi, Molinari and Ongar. In total Nappi won 24 international caps between 1970-76.

Personal Best: 100 – 11.5 (1972).