Vincenzo Picardi: Italy’s Olympic Boxing Bronze Medalist
Italian boxer Vincenzo Picardi won flyweight bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and returned to the Games at London 2012. His Olympic medal sits alongside success at world, European Games and Mediterranean Games level in a long international amateur career.
Three victories at Beijing 2008
Picardi opened his Olympic campaign with a decision victory over Zambia’s Cassius Chiyanika. He then beat Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic to advance to the quarterfinals, where a win against Tunisia’s Walid Cherif guaranteed him a medal.
Thailand’s Somjit Jongjohor ended Picardi’s run in the semifinal and went on to win gold. Picardi shared bronze with Russia’s Georgy Balakshin, while Cuba’s Andry Laffita received silver. The result followed Picardi’s bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago, giving him major podium finishes in consecutive seasons.
More international appearances and medals
Picardi competed again at London 2012, finishing equal ninth in the flyweight event. His results outside the Olympics also included Mediterranean Games bronze in Pescara in 2009 and silver in Mersin in 2013.
At the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, he added another silver medal in the flyweight division. Those achievements show why his career extends beyond the single Beijing result: he remained competitive in international tournaments over several Olympic cycles.
Associated with Italy’s Fiamme Oro sports group, Picardi represented the country in one of amateur boxing’s lighter divisions. Following his results tournament by tournament makes it possible to distinguish his Olympic bronze from the separate medals earned at other major events.
Olympedia lists both Olympic appearances and the 2008 medal; the Italian National Olympic Committee provides a second athlete record. Sources: Beijing flyweight tournament; [1] [2]
Sources
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
