Eugenio Monti facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eugenio Monti

Monti in the 1950s
Personal information
Born	(1928-01-23)23 January 1928 Toblach, Italy
Died	1 December 2003(2003-12-01) (aged 75) Belluno, Italy
Sport
Country	Italy
Sport	Bobsleigh
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 2 2 World Championships 9 1 0 Olympic Games Gold 1968 Grenoble Two-man Gold 1968 Grenoble Four-man Silver 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Two-man Silver 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Four-man Bronze 1964 Innsbruck Two-man Bronze 1964 Innsbruck Four-man Pierre de Coubertin medal 1964 World Championships Gold 1957 St. Moritz Two-man Gold 1958 Garmisch Two-man Gold 1959 St. Moritz Two-man Gold 1960 Cortina d'Ampezzo Two-man Gold 1960 Cortina d'Ampezzo Four-man Gold 1961 Lake Placid Two-man Gold 1961 Lake Placid Four-man Gold 1963 Igls Two-man Gold 1966 Cortina d'Ampezzo Two-man Silver 1957 St. Moritz Four-man

Eugenio Monti (born January 23, 1928 – died December 1, 2003) was an amazing Italian athlete. He was famous for two winter sports: alpine skiing and bobsleigh. Bobsleigh is a thrilling sport where teams race down an icy track in a special sled. Eugenio Monti became one of the best bobsledders ever! He won many medals, including nine gold medals at the World Championships and two gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

Monti is also remembered for his incredible acts of sportsmanship. These happened during the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Because of his kindness and fairness, he was the first athlete to ever receive the special Pierre de Coubertin medal. This award celebrates true sportsmanship.

The Life of Eugenio Monti

Eugenio Monti was born in Toblach, Italy. People sometimes called him The Flying Redhead. He was a very talented young skier. He won national titles in both slalom and giant slalom races. He also placed third in downhill skiing.

However, in 1951, he had a bad accident. He tore ligaments in both of his knees. This injury sadly ended his promising career in alpine skiing.

Switching to Bobsleigh

After his skiing accident, Monti decided to try a new sport: bobsleigh. This turned out to be a great choice! He quickly found huge success. In 1954, he won his first Italian championship in bobsleigh. Just three years later, in 1957, he won his first world championship.

Olympic Challenges and Triumphs

Monti competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. He earned two silver medals there. One was in the 2-man bobsled event, and the other was in the 4-man bobsled event.

He couldn't compete in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. This was because, for the only time in Winter Olympic history, the bobsled race was not held. This decision was made for economic reasons.

The Spirit of Sportsmanship in 1964

The 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck is where Monti showed his most famous acts of sportsmanship. During the 2-man bobsled race, he noticed that the British team, Tony Nash and Robin Dixon, had a broken bolt on their sled.

Without hesitation, Monti lent them a bolt from his own sled. The British team used his bolt and went on to win the gold medal! Monti and his teammate, despite their generosity, won the bronze medal. When some people back home criticized him, Monti famously said, "Nash didn't win because I gave him the bolt. He won because he had the fastest run."

Monti's kindness didn't stop there. In the four-man bobsled competition, the Canadian team, led by Vic Emery, damaged their sled's axle. They would have been disqualified from the race. But Monti and his mechanics quickly stepped in to help. They repaired the Canadian team's sled. The Canadian team then went on to win the gold medal, and Monti's team again took the bronze.

For these amazing acts of fairness and generosity, Eugenio Monti was honored with the Pierre de Coubertin medal. This medal is given to athletes who show true sportsmanship.

Double Gold in 1968 and Retirement

Finally, at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, Eugenio Monti was 40 years old. Despite his age, he achieved incredible success. He won a gold medal in both the two-man and four-man bobsled events. He was the first non-German athlete to win both events at the same Olympics.

After these victories, he received Italy's highest civilian honor. This was the Commendatore of the Italian Republic. After this, he retired from competing. He then worked at his skiing facilities in Cortina.

Today, a turn at Cesana Pariol, where the bobsled races for the 2006 Winter Olympics were held, is named after Monti. Also, the bobsleigh track in Cortina, which Monti raced on for many years, was renamed in his honor after his death in 2003. This track is even planned to be used for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Eugenio Monti's Achievements

Eugenio Monti, in the driver's seat of his bob, in the 1960s.

Eugenio Monti, at a Gala evening, in the 1960s.

Bobsleigh Medals

Olympic Games Medals

• Gold medal in the two-man event at the 1968 Winter Olympics
• Gold medal in the four-man event at the 1968 Winter Olympics
• Silver medal in the two-man event at the 1956 Winter Olympics
• Silver medal in the four-man event at the 1956 Winter Olympics
• Bronze medal in the two-man event at the 1964 Winter Olympics
• Bronze medal in the four-man event at the 1964 Winter Olympics

World Championships Medals

• Gold medal in the two-man event in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966
• Gold medal in the four-man event in 1960, 1961
• Silver medal in the four-man event in 1957

Alpine Skiing Achievements

National Titles Won

Monti won three national titles in alpine skiing before his injury.

• Italian Alpine Ski Championships
  • Slalom: 1949, 1950 (2 titles)
  • Giant slalom: 1950 (1 title)

See also

In Spanish: Eugenio Monti para niños

• Legends of Italian sport - Walk of Fame
• Italy at the Olympics - Men gold medalist