Aldo Nadi
Encyclopedia
Aldo Nadi is considered among the greatest fencers of all time.
Aldo was born into a fencing family in Livorno, Italy
, and both Aldo and his brother Nedo Nadi
were fencers from a very young age. They were both taught in the classical Italian school of swordsmanship by their father, Beppe Nadi, and both were already winning competitions by their teenage years. Nedo is generally considered the better of the two. His opponents include the famous French
fencer, Lucien Gaudin
.
In 1920, at the age of 21, Nadi won gold medals at the Olympics in team foil, team épée, and team sabre. He also won a silver medal in individual sabre, second only to his brother Nedo Nadi
.
Nadi emigrated to the United States
in 1935. He taught fencing in New York City
from 1935-1943. In 1943, his book, On Fencing, was published. Also in 1943, he relocated to Los Angeles
, California
, where he continued to teach fencing in his own school, in addition to occasionally coaching actors for fencing scenes in films. He even made a film appearance himself in To Have and Have Not
(1944).
In 1955, Nadi wrote his autobiography (The Living Sword: A Fencer's Autobiography), which was published 30 years after his death. This was done with the help of editor Lance Lobo, and included an afterword by William M. Gaugler, an Italian school fencing master and one of Nadi's students.
Nadi died in his sleep, at his home in Los Angeles, on November 10, 1965.
Aldo was born into a fencing family in Livorno, Italy
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...
, and both Aldo and his brother Nedo Nadi
Nedo Nadi
Nedo Nadi was an Italian fencer, widely regarded as one of, if not, the best ever. He is the only fencer to win a gold medal in each of the three weapons at a single Olympic Games and won the most gold medals ever at a single Games - five...
were fencers from a very young age. They were both taught in the classical Italian school of swordsmanship by their father, Beppe Nadi, and both were already winning competitions by their teenage years. Nedo is generally considered the better of the two. His opponents include the famous French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
fencer, Lucien Gaudin
Lucien Gaudin
Lucien Gaudin was a French fencer and olympic champion both in foil and in épée competition....
.
In 1920, at the age of 21, Nadi won gold medals at the Olympics in team foil, team épée, and team sabre. He also won a silver medal in individual sabre, second only to his brother Nedo Nadi
Nedo Nadi
Nedo Nadi was an Italian fencer, widely regarded as one of, if not, the best ever. He is the only fencer to win a gold medal in each of the three weapons at a single Olympic Games and won the most gold medals ever at a single Games - five...
.
Nadi emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1935. He taught fencing in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1935-1943. In 1943, his book, On Fencing, was published. Also in 1943, he relocated to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he continued to teach fencing in his own school, in addition to occasionally coaching actors for fencing scenes in films. He even made a film appearance himself in To Have and Have Not
To Have and Have Not (film)
To Have and Have Not is a 1944 romance-war-adventure film. The movie was directed by Howard Hawks and stars Humphrey Bogart, Walter Brennan, and Lauren Bacall in her first film...
(1944).
In 1955, Nadi wrote his autobiography (The Living Sword: A Fencer's Autobiography), which was published 30 years after his death. This was done with the help of editor Lance Lobo, and included an afterword by William M. Gaugler, an Italian school fencing master and one of Nadi's students.
Nadi died in his sleep, at his home in Los Angeles, on November 10, 1965.