Umberto Avattaneo

Roma’s Umberto Avattaneo was an Italian discus thrower who achieved his first important result in his hometown of Roma on 22 October 1905 with 31.00 m, although the measurement was then done in Italy from the center of the throwing circle and not from the outer edge. This was true in Italy until 1913 when the throwing disciplines moved from the Gymnastics Federation to that of Athletics.

In 1906 Avattaneo, using an underweight implement of 1.923 kg, had the best Italian result of the year with 39.80, which improved Alberto Masprone’s national record by almost four metres. In the Olympic year of 1908, throwing from a free field and not from a circle, Avattaneo recorded 44.68 m, which was the longest throw by an Italian. He had previously competed at the London Games in both discus events. Avattaneo never managed to become a national champion, as the first Italian discus title was awarded in Milano in 1913 when he had already retired.

Personal Best: DT – 43.20 (1910).