Augusto Maccario

Augusto Maccario was a long-distance runner in the 1910s and 1920s, in a period dominated in Italy by Carlo Speroni. Maccario was born on the sea border between Italy and France and was a waiter by profession. His running skill was first evident in 1910 when he was fourth in the Nice-Monte Carlo race. He had lived in Monte Carlo for a time and was a member of the city’s sports club.

At the Oneglia Velodrome in August 1919, Maccario ran 7,000 metres in 23:54. Two months later at Milano, he won his only Italian title when he won the 10,000 metres in 33:08.0 defeating Costantino Lussana and Ettore Blasi. Maccario’s time at the 5,000 metre mark was 16:15.8.

At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, the three Italians, Lussana, Speroni and Maccario entered the 10,000, with the latter two reaching the final, but Speroni pulled out and Maccario was the lone Italian left in the race. After a bad start, he caught the three leaders, and the four men stayed together for two kilometres. However, when Joseph Guillemot made a break, Maccario was left behind and ended up a creditable fourth behind the winner, the great Paavo Nurmi. The following year Maccario retired and he died in 1927 at the young age of 37

Personal Bests: 3000 – unknown; 5000 – 16:15.8 (1919); 10000 – 32:02.0e (1920).