Manuela Levorato

Manuela Levorato was an Italian sprinter who started her career with PAF Club and achieved her best results in 2002 at the European Championships in München, winning the bronze medal in both the 100m (11.23) and 200m (22.75). Levorato had five participations at the World Championships between 1995 and 2005, reaching the 200m semi-final on three occasions. Hampered by recurring injuries, she was forced to withdraw from the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Levorato won 33 international caps between 1995-2011.

Domestically she won four 100m and one 200m title outdoors, and six 60m and three 200m indoor. She set the Italian 100m record with 11.14 at Lausanne in 2001. It was not until 22 years later that the record was equalled, by Zaynab Dosso. In the 200m, Levorato set the national record three times between May 1998 and August 1999, and her best time of 22.60 was not bettered until 2016 by Libania Grenot.

Levorato continued running until she was 37 and won an Italian title at the age of 33. She married former sprinter Luca Simoni, who competed in the 100 metres at the 2002 München European Championships, and she gave birth to twins shortly after retiring. Her biography “La corsa, le mie ali” (Running, My Wings) was published in 2022.