Pietro Mennea R.I.P.

I am sure that most of you have never heard of Pietro Mennea but I remember him well. He was  the Italian sprinter who broke the 200m world record in Mexico in 1979, his time 19.72




Pietro Mennea was often in races with Allan Wells and they were usually close, here's the 1979 Europa Cup 200m




In the Moscow Olympics of 1980 it was Pietro Mennea that passed Allan Wells on the line to deny Allan Wells a 100m and 200m double.




Pietro Mennea was fast, indeed to this day only eight other athletes have run 200m faster than he did that day in Mexico City, albeit Pietro Mennea did have the advantage of running at altitude that day.


OK the eight runners are in order of speed, fastest first:Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson, Walter Dix, Tyson Gay, Xavier Carter, Wallace Spearman & Frankie Fredericks.

So Pietro Mennea is still the fastest ever white man over 200m.  He's also still the fastest ever Italian man over 100m with a best time of 10.01set at that same meeting in Mexico City.

Another great athlete of my youth has passed away, a sad day.