Eugenio Monti (January 23, 1928 – December 1, 2003) was an Italian bobsledder. He is one of the most successful athletes in the history of this sport, with 12 World Championships medals (of which 11 gold) and 6 Olympic medals, but is known also for an act of sportsmanship during the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria that made him the first athlete ever to receive the Pierre de Coubertin medal. The Pierre de Coubertin medal (also known as the De Coubertin medal or the True Spirit of Sportsmanship medal) is a special medal given by the International Olympic Committee to those athletes that demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship in Olympics events. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bobsleigh is a winter sport in which teams make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked purpose-built iced tracks in a gravity-powered, steerable sled. ... A runner carries the Olympic torch The Winter Olympic Games, Winter Olympics for short but more correctly The Olympic Winter Games, are the cold-weather counterpart to the Summer Olympic Games. ... It is sporting to shake the hand of ones opponent after the end of a game. ... The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were held in 1964 in Innsbruck, Austria. ... Innsbruck is a city in western Austria, and the capital of the federal state of Tyrol. ... The Pierre de Coubertin medal (also known as the De Coubertin medal or the True Spirit of Sportsmanship medal) is a special medal given by the International Olympic Committee to those athletes that demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship in Olympics events. ...

Biography

Born in Dobbiaco, Italy, The Flying Redhead was the best Italian young skier: he won the national titles in Slalom and Giant Slalom and arrived third in Downhill, but in 1951 the breaking of the ligaments of both knees in an accident stopped his career. He then turned to bobsled, with great success. In 1954 he won his first Italian championship and in 1957 won his first world championship. Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline. ... Giant Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline. ... The downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, he won silver medals in the 2-man and 4-man bobsled events. He could not compete in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, because the bobsled race was not held for economic reasons (for the only time in the history of the Winter Olympic Games). The VII Olympic Winter Games were held in 1956 in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. ... Cortina dAmpezzo (population 8000) is a town in the province of Veneto, northern Italy. ... A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests (typically athletics competitions) such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. ... The VIII Olympic Winter Games were held in 1960 in Squaw Valley, USA. Alexander Cushing, the creator of the resort, campaigned vigorously to win the Games. ... The Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Squaw Valley, California (Ski Area Valley) is one of the most famous ski areas in the United States and was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. ...

But it was during the 1964 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck that Monti performed the most well-known act of his sporting career. Realizing that British bobsledders Tony Nash and Robin Dixon had broken a bolt on their sled, Monti lent them the bolt of his sled. The Britons won the gold medal in the 2-man bobsled, while Monti and his teammate took the bronze medal. Answering critics from the home press, Monti told them "Nash didn't win because I gave him the bolt. He won because he had the fastest run." But that was not his only act of selfless generosity. In the four-man competition, the Canadian team of Vic Emery damaged their sled's axle and would have been disqualified had not Monti and his mechanics come to the rescue. The sled was repaired and the Canadian team went on to win the gold medal. (Redirected from 1964 Winter Olympic Games) The IX Olympic Winter Games were held in 1964 Austria. ... Innsbruck is a city in western Austria, and the capital of the federal state of Tyrol. ... Major (Thomas) Robin Valerian Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran CBE (b. ... A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests (typically athletics competitions) such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. ... Vic Emery (born June 28, 1933 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a businessman and an Gold medallist at the Olympic Winter Games and a World Champion bobsledder. ...

Finally, at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, a 40-year-old Monti won a gold in both the two-man and four-man events. After his victory, he received Italy's highest civilian honor – the Commendatore of the Italian Republic and then retired to labor in his skiing facilities in Cortina. See also: 1968 Winter Paralympics The X Olympic Winter Games were held in 1968 Grenoble, France and opened on February 6. ... Location within France Grenoble (Occitan: Grasanòbol) is a city and commune in south-east France, situated at the foot of the Alps, at the confluence of the Drac into the Isère River. ...

Suffering from Parkinson's disease, Monti committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on December 1, 2003. December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Turn 19 at Cesana Pariol, the site of the 2006 Winter Olympic Bobsled, Luge, and skeleton competitions in named for Monti. Cesana Pariol is the venue for bobsled, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. ... Bobsleigh is a winter sport in which teams make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked purpose-built iced tracks in a gravity-powered, steerable sled. ... three-time Olympic champion and a luge legend: Georg Hackl. ... United States Air Force Major Brady Canfield, 2003 U.S. skeleton champion, shows his takeoff form. ...

Victories

Olympic Games

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

A runner carries the Olympic torch The Winter Olympic Games, Winter Olympics for short but more correctly The Olympic Winter Games, are the cold-weather counterpart to the Summer Olympic Games. ... (Redirected from 1968 Winter Olympic Games) See also: 1968 Winter Paralympics The X Olympic Winter Games were held in 1968 France and opened on Norway won the most medals, the first time a country other than the Soviet Union had done so since the Soviet Union first entered the Winter... (Redirected from 1968 Winter Olympic Games) See also: 1968 Winter Paralympics The X Olympic Winter Games were held in 1968 France and opened on Norway won the most medals, the first time a country other than the Soviet Union had done so since the Soviet Union first entered the Winter... (Redirected from 1956 Winter Olympic Games) The VII Olympic Winter Games were held in 1956 in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. ... (Redirected from 1956 Winter Olympic Games) The VII Olympic Winter Games were held in 1956 in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. ... (Redirected from 1964 Winter Olympic Games) The IX Olympic Winter Games were held in 1964 Austria. ... (Redirected from 1964 Winter Olympic Games) The IX Olympic Winter Games were held in 1964 Austria. ...

World Bobsled Championships

• Gold medal in the two-man in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968
• Gold medal in the four-man in 1960, 1961, 1963
• Silver medal in the four man in 1957

1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Olympic.org profile
• Montis' sportsmansip story at the IOC website
• A lesson in sportsmanship from Monti's actions in 1964
• Eugenio Monti
• ((Italian)) Interview with Eugenio Monti (2003)