Aldo Nadi facts for kids
Nadi in 1922
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 29 April 1899 Livorno, Italy |
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| Died | 10 November 1965 (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 1.83 m | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 69 kg | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Fencing | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Aldo Nadi (born April 29, 1899 – died November 10, 1965) was an amazing Italian fencer. Many people think he was one of the best fencers ever!
About Aldo Nadi
Aldo grew up in a family of fencers in Livorno, Italy. Both he and his brother, Nedo Nadi, started fencing when they were very young. Their father, Beppe Nadi, taught them how to use the foil and sabre. These are two types of fencing swords.
Their father didn't like the épée, another type of fencing sword. He thought it was "undisciplined." So, Aldo and Nedo practiced using the épée by themselves.
Olympic Success
In 1920, when Aldo was 21, he went to the Olympics. He won three gold medals! These were for team foil, team épée, and team sabre. He also won a silver medal in individual sabre. His brother, Nedo Nadi, won the gold in that event.
Life in America
Aldo Nadi moved to the United States in 1935. He taught fencing in New York City for eight years. In 1943, he wrote a book about fencing called On Fencing.
Later in 1943, he moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he opened his own fencing school. He also helped actors learn fencing for movies. He even appeared in a movie himself! He played a bodyguard in To Have and Have Not (1944), which starred Humphrey Bogart.
In 1955, Aldo Nadi wrote his life story. It was called The Living Sword: A Fencer's Autobiography. This book was published 30 years after he passed away. Aldo Nadi died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on November 10, 1965.
Famous Challenges
Aldo Nadi was also known for his real-life challenges. At the 1920 Olympics, he had a disagreement with an Italian weightlifter. Nadi used a riding whip, and the weightlifter used a wooden beam. The challenge ended quickly when Nadi hit the weightlifter's hand, making him drop his weapon.
Later, Nadi had a strong disagreement with a journalist. He also challenged another famous fencer, Edoardo Mangiarotti. Nadi felt that the Italian Olympic Committee treated Mangiarotti better than him. Nadi suggested they use pistols, but Mangiarotti said no.
Filmography
Aldo Nadi appeared in a few films:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Le Tournoi dans la cité | François de Baynes | |
| 1944 | To Have and Have Not | Renard's Bodyguard | (his last movie role) |
See also
In Spanish: Aldo Nadi para niños
