Livio Berruti in 2010 Medal record Men's Athletics Competitor for  Italy Olympic Games Gold 1960 Rome 200 metres Mediterranean Games Gold 1963 Napoli 200 metres Summer Universiade Gold 1959 Torino 100 metres Gold 1959 Torino 200 metres Livio Berruti (born May 19, 1939) is an Italian former athlete. He became the surprising winner of the 200 m in the 1960 Summer Olympics. He born in Turin and here he attend the Liceo Classico "Cavour". Berruti, a chemistry student, was only 21 when he competed in the 1960 Olympics, which were held in front of his home crowd in Rome. In the semi-finals of the 200 m, he suddenly ran 20.5, equalling the standing world record for that distance. This made him a surprise outsider for the final, later that day. In that race, Berruti, who was noted for always running with black glasses and white socks, once again clocked 20.5, beating the American favourites to the gold medal. See the race on youtube.

Anchoring the Italian 4 x 100 m relay team, Berruti narrowly missed out on a second Olympic medal, finishing in 4th. His world record was not beaten until June 1962, but his performance remained a European record for a further two years, until 21 June 1964. His Olympic victory, in the beginning of his career, would remain his best achievement. His three appearances at the European Championships only brought him a 7th place in the 1966 200 m final. He did, however, win Italian titles in both the 100 and 200 m from 1957 until 1962, and two more 200 m titles in 1965 and 1968. Berruti also made two more Olympic appearances, in 1964 and 1968. On both occasions, he reached the final of the 4 x 100 m relay, and also placed 5th in the 200 m final of 1964. References sports-reference

v · d · eOlympic Champions in Men's 200 m 1900: Walter Tewksbury (USA)  · 1904: Archie Hahn (USA)  · 1908: Bobby Kerr (CAN)  · 1912: Ralph Craig (USA)  · 1920: Allen Woodring (USA)  · 1924: Jackson Scholz (USA)  · 1928: Percy Williams (CAN)  · 1932: Eddie Tolan (USA)  · 1936: Jesse Owens (USA)  · 1948: Mel Patton (USA)  · 1952: Andy Stanfield (USA)  · 1956: Bobby Joe Morrow (USA)  · 1960: Livio Berruti (ITA)  · 1964: Henry Carr (USA)  · 1968: Tommie Smith (USA)  · 1972: Valeri Borzov (URS)  · 1976: Don Quarrie (JAM)  · 1980: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  · 1984: Carl Lewis (USA)  · 1988: Joe DeLoach (USA)  · 1992: Michael Marsh (USA)  · 1996: Michael Johnson (USA)  · 2000: Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE)  · 2004: Shawn Crawford (USA)  · 2008: Usain Bolt (JAM) v · d · eMediterranean Champions in Men's 200 m

 1949: Antonio Siddi (ITA)  •  1951: Antonio Siddi (ITA)  •  1955: Luigi Gnocchi (ITA)  •  1959: Paul Genevay (FRA)  •  1963: Livio Berruti (ITA)  •  1967: Ito Giani (ITA)  •  1971: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1975: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1979: Luciano Caravani (ITA)  •  1983: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1987: Stefano Tilli (ITA)  •  1991: Stefano Tilli (ITA)  •  1993: Daniel Sangouma (FRA)  •  1997: Giovanni Puggioni (ITA)  •  2001: Anninos Marcoullides (CYP)  •  2005: Matic Osovnikar (SLO)  •  2009: Amr Ibrahim Mostafa Seoud (EGY) v · d · eSummer Universiade Champions in Men's 100 m

 1959: Livio Berruti (ITA)  •  1961 – 1963: Enrique Figuerola (CUB)  •  1965: Hideo Iijima (JPN)  •  1967: Gaoussou Koné (CIV)  •  1970: Siegfried Schenke (GDR)  •  1973: Juris Silovs (URS)  •  1975: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1977: Silvio Leonard (CUB)  •  1979: Mike Roberson (USA)  •  1981: Mel Lattany (USA)  •  1983 – 1985: Chidi Imoh (NGR)  •  1987: Lee McRae (USA)  •  1989: Andre Cason (USA)  •  1991: Michael Bates (USA)  •  1993: Daniel Effiong (NGR)  •  1995: David Oaks (USA)  •  1997: Vincent Henderson (USA)  •  1999: André da Silva (BRA)  •  2001: Markus Brunson (USA)  •  2003: Chris Lambert (GBR)  •  2005: Hu Kai (CHN)  •  2007: Simeon Williamson (GBR)  •  2009: Rolando Palacios (HON) v · d · eSummer Universiade Champions in Men's 200 m

 1959: Livio Berruti (ITA)  •  1961: László Mihályfi (HUN)  •  1963 – 1965: Edvin Ozolin (URS)  •  1967: Tommie Smith (USA)  •  1970: Martin Reynolds (GBR)  •  1973 – 1975: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1977: Clancy Edwards (USA)  •  1979: Pietro Mennea (ITA)  •  1981: Yuriy Naumenko (URS)  •  1983: Innocent Egbunike (NGR)  •  1985: Leandro Peñalver (CUB)  •  1987: Wallace Spearmon Sr. (USA)  •  1989: Robson da Silva (BRA)  •  1991: Jon Drummond (USA)  •  1993: Brian Bridgewater (USA)  •  1995: Anthuan Maybank (USA)  •  1997: Gentry Bradley (USA)  •  1999: Coby Miller (USA)  •  2001: Marcin Urbaś (POL)  •  2003 – 2005: Leigh Julius (RSA)  •  2007: Amr Seowd (EGY)  •  2009: Ramil Guliyev (AZE)

Records Preceded by Manfred Germar European Record Holder Men's 100 m 26 May 1960 – 20 June 1960 Succeeded by Armin Hary Preceded by Peter Radford European Record Holder Men's 200 m 3 September 1960 – 20 June 1964 Succeeded by Sergio Ottolina Persondata Name Berruti, Livio Alternative names Short description Date of birth May 19, 1939 Place of birth Turin, Italy Date of death Place of death

Records Preceded by Manfred Germar European Record Holder Men's 100 m 26 May 1960 – 20 June 1960 Succeeded by Armin Hary Preceded by Peter Radford European Record Holder Men's 200 m 3 September 1960 – 20 June 1964 Succeeded by Sergio Ottolina Persondata Name Berruti, Livio Alternative names Short description Date of birth May 19, 1939 Place of birth Turin, Italy Date of death Place of death

Records Preceded by Manfred Germar European Record Holder Men's 100 m 26 May 1960 – 20 June 1960 Succeeded by Armin Hary Preceded by Peter Radford European Record Holder Men's 200 m 3 September 1960 – 20 June 1964 Succeeded by Sergio Ottolina Persondata Name Berruti, Livio Alternative names Short description Date of birth May 19, 1939 Place of birth Turin, Italy Date of death Place of death

Records Preceded by Manfred Germar European Record Holder Men's 100 m 26 May 1960 – 20 June 1960 Succeeded by Armin Hary Preceded by Peter Radford European Record Holder Men's 200 m 3 September 1960 – 20 June 1964 Succeeded by Sergio Ottolina Persondata Name Berruti, Livio Alternative names Short description Date of birth May 19, 1939 Place of birth Turin, Italy Date of death Place of death