Gennaro Di Napoli

Gennaro Di Napoli was an Italian middle-distance runner. He started out as a tennis player but moved to athletics and won the 1987 European Junior Championship in the 1,500. Two years later he broke the Italian record with 3:32.98, improving it again in Rieti on 9 September 1990 (3:32.78), while beating the Algerian champion Noureddine Morceli.

The international highlight of his career was likely the silver medal he won at the 1990 European Championships in the 1,500. He was at his best indoors, winning gold medals in the 3,000 at the 1993 and 1995 World Indoor Championships and the 1992 European Indoors. Di Napoli also won gold in the 1,500 at the 1992 Mediterranean Games. He also won the 5,000 at the 1995, 1996, and 1997 European Cup. Di Napoli earned 41 caps during his career. As of 2020, he remained the Italian record holder in the 1,500, mile (3:51.96 in 1992), 2,000 (4:55.00 in 1991), and 3,000 (7:39.54 in 1996). He won the Italian title three times at 1,500 metres (1990-92) and once in the 5K (2000).

Di Napoli was a co-founder, with his son Mattia, of Web Radio and Radio Rap TV and later became a performance rep for Puma for football and running. In January 2013 he founded the association A come Atletica with former national teammates.

Personal Bests: 1,500 – 3:32.78 (1990); 5,000 – 13:17.46 (1995).