Agostino Straulino
Encyclopedia
Agostino Straulino (October 10, 1914 – December 14, 2004) was an Italian
sailor
and sailboat racer, who won one Olympic gold medal and one silver medal in the Star class
, and eight consecutive European championships and two world championships in this class and was world champion in the 5.5m-class.
on the island of Lošinj
, Croatia
(at that time in the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary
).
He gained his first sailing experiences as a child on the Kvarner Gulf
of the northern Adriatic Sea
. He later attended the Naval Academy
at Livorno
and embarked on a naval career during which he was commanding officer of the Italian training vessel Amerigo Vespucci
for some time and eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral
.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics
he was a reserve sailor.
He first competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
and finished fifth in the Star class
.
Between 1949 and 1956 he won eight consecutive European championships in the starboat class. In 1952 and 1953 he was also world champion in this class. The climax of his career as a sportsman was his gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
. Four years later he won the silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
. After his partner Nicolò Rode
(also from Lošinj) quit, Straulino continued to compete at Olympic games with his new partner Carlo Rolandi in the starboat class (1960 Summer Olympics
, Rome
, fourth place) and the 5.5m-class (1964 Summer Olympics
, Tokyo
, fourth place). A year later he won the world championship in the 5.5m-class.
He continued to compete in regattas in bigger boats and won the One Ton Cup
off Porto Cervo
in 1973 and the Italian Giraglia
long-distance-race.
Mali Lošinj pronounced him an honorable citizen . Straulino was the initiator of Lošinjska regata, a sailing competition.
Straulino died in Rome
in 2004.
His final wish was fulfilled, so he was buried in Croatia, in his village of birth, Mali Lošinj.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
sailor
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and sailboat racer, who won one Olympic gold medal and one silver medal in the Star class
Star (sailboat)
The International Star is a 6.9 m one-design racing keelboat for two people.The boat must weigh at least 671 kg with a maximum total sail area of 26.5 m . It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length...
, and eight consecutive European championships and two world championships in this class and was world champion in the 5.5m-class.
Biography
Straulino was born in Mali LošinjMali Lošinj
-Mayors:*Hrvoje Lesic - *Mario Hofmann - *Dragan Balija - Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar *Gari Capelli - Croatian Democratic Union -References:...
on the island of Lošinj
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(at that time in the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
).
He gained his first sailing experiences as a child on the Kvarner Gulf
Kvarner Gulf
The Kvarner Gulf ); sometimes also Kvarner Bay, in Italian Quarnaro or Carnaro) is a bay in the northern Adriatic Sea, located between the Istrian peninsula and the northern Croatian seacoast....
of the northern Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. He later attended the Naval Academy
Accademia Navale di Livorno
The Italian Naval Academy is a coeducational military university in Leghorn , which is responsible for the technical training of military officers of the Italian Navy.-The Hospital of St. James:...
at Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
and embarked on a naval career during which he was commanding officer of the Italian training vessel Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci (ship)
The Amerigo Vespucci is a tall ship of the Marina Militare, named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Its home port is Livorno, Italy; It is still in use as a school ship....
for some time and eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
he was a reserve sailor.
He first competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
and finished fifth in the Star class
Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad (1896 Olympics in Athens Greece. With the exception of 1904...
.
Between 1949 and 1956 he won eight consecutive European championships in the starboat class. In 1952 and 1953 he was also world champion in this class. The climax of his career as a sportsman was his gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. Four years later he won the silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. After his partner Nicolò Rode
Nicolò Rode
Nicolò Rode is an Italian sailor and Olympic Champion. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and won a gold medal in the Star class with skipper Agostino Straulino on Merope...
(also from Lošinj) quit, Straulino continued to compete at Olympic games with his new partner Carlo Rolandi in the starboat class (1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, fourth place) and the 5.5m-class (1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, fourth place). A year later he won the world championship in the 5.5m-class.
He continued to compete in regattas in bigger boats and won the One Ton Cup
One Ton Cup
The One Ton Cup is a sailing trophy open to yachts that displace approximately one ton . It has been raced since 1899 and was awarded by Cercle de la Voile de Paris.From 1999 the Cup will be given to the Corel 45 Class World Championship....
off Porto Cervo
Porto Cervo
Porto Cervo is an Italian seaside resort in northern Sardinia. It is a frazione of the comune of Arzachena, in the province of Olbia-Tempio. The village is the main centre of the Costa Smeralda, on the gulf of the same name. It was created by Prince Karim Aga Khan...
in 1973 and the Italian Giraglia
Giraglia
Giraglia is a French island at the northern tip of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea, known for its lighthouse and for the Torra di Giraglia, a Genoese tower which is an Official Historical Monuments of France....
long-distance-race.
Mali Lošinj pronounced him an honorable citizen . Straulino was the initiator of Lošinjska regata, a sailing competition.
Straulino died in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 2004.
Non-sporting biography
Despite having the property of his family nationalized and expropriated by Tito's Yugoslavia, and despite early leaving of his island of birth, Straulino was so deeply in love with his island that he was regular visitor, especially after he had retired and always wanted to know what was going on Lošinj. In fact, from his position, he helped former Yugoslavia.His final wish was fulfilled, so he was buried in Croatia, in his village of birth, Mali Lošinj.