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Franco Menichelli, Italian Gymnastics Great, Dies at 84

The national federation confirmed his passing, marking the loss of the 1964 Olympic floor champion turned influential coach.

Overview

  • Federginnastica announced his death on January 28 and conveyed condolences to his wife Gabriella and daughters Cristiana and Francesca.
  • He won three medals at Tokyo 1964, taking gold on floor exercise, silver on rings and bronze on parallel bars.
  • At the Rome 1960 Olympics he earned two bronzes, one in individual floor and another in the team event.
  • A ruptured Achilles tendon at the 1968 Mexico City Games curtailed his competitive career and preceded retirement in the early 1970s.
  • After coaching Italy’s men’s national team through 1978, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003, with tributes highlighting his technical innovation, including from Jury Chechi.