Giorgio Ballati

Giorgio Ballati was an Italian hurdler in the 1970s. With a thin build, the 23-year-old from Pistoia (Tuscany) seemed to be the worthy heir of Roberto Frinolli. In his first real international event, the 1969 Athina European Championships, Ballati reached the 400 hurdle final, helped by the absence of the Germans, but he finished last in 52.4. The following year he won international matches with Spain and Poland and in the semi-final of the European Cup he was runner-up in 51.3 behind the German Werner Reibert.

Alongside Frinolli, who continued to compete, Ballati made the semi-finals at the 1971 Helsinki European Championships and was eliminated in the heats at the 1972 Olympics. He re-emerged at the top level in 1974, placing well in international events, although he disappointed at the Roma European Championships, where he was eliminated in the heats with 51.47. The following year Ballati still performed well (three times under 51.0), allowing him to dominate nationally and he won his last international race in the semi-final of the European Cup with 50.88.

Ballati earned 36 internationals caps from 1968-1980. He also won six individual national 400 hurdle titles, 1971-72 and 1974-75 with the Atletica Pistoia team and 1978 and 1980 with FIAT Iveco Torino.

Personal Best: 400H – 50.25 (1974).