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Gildo Arena

Full name: Ermenegildo "Gildo" Arena
Gender: Male
Born: February 25, 1921 in Napoli, Napoli, Italy
Died: February 8, 2005 in Napoli, Napoli, Italy
Affiliations: SS Lazio, Roma (ITA) / Rari Nantes Napoli, Napoli (ITA) / Circolo Canottieri, Napoli (ITA)
Country: ITA Italy
Sport: Water Polo

Medals: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze (2 Total)

Biography

Gildo Arena was one of the top scorers for the Italian water polo squad. During the London Games, he scored 13 goals, including four in the two medal round matches against Hungary and the Netherlands. Credited as the inventor of the "beduina", a back hand shot, Arena also won the 1947 European Championships with Italy, and six Italian titles. He won the first five (1939, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1950) with Rari Nantes of Naples, but then switched to rival Canottieri Napoli for his sixth (1951). "They gave me a car, a Fiat 500 and money, 500,000 lire, to change teams. I was the first water polo professional." He was not considered a pro by FINA and was allowed to compete at the 1952 Olympics. Gildo Arena was also an excellent swimmer, and he won two Italian titles each in 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 200 m freestyle.

Results

Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Men's Water Polo Italy ITA 1 Gold
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Men's Water Polo Italy ITA 3 Bronze

Men's Water Polo

Event History
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Phase Unit Rank Date Result G
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Final Round Match #2 1 1948-08-06 ITA 4, BEL 2 1
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Final Round Match #4 1 1948-08-07 ITA 4, NED 2 2
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Group B Match #1 1 1948-08-04 ITA 5, EGY 1 1
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Group B Match #3 1 1948-08-05 ITA 5, FRA 2 3
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Group C Match #1 1 1948-08-02 ITA 4, HUN 3 2
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Group D Match #3 1 1948-07-30 ITA 4, YUG 2 2
1948 Summer 27 London Water Polo Italy ITA Group D Match #4 1T 1948-08-01 YUG 4, ITA 4 2
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Final Round Match #1 2 1952-08-01 HUN 7, ITA 2
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Final Round Match #4 2 1952-08-02 YUG 3, ITA 1
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Group A Match #1 1 1952-07-30 ITA 5, BEL 1
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Group A Match #2 1 1952-07-30 ITA 2, ESP 1
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Group A Match #1 1 1952-07-26 ITA 4, GBR 3
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Group A Match #2 1 1952-07-27 ITA 8, AUT 1
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Group A Match #4 1 1952-07-28 ITA 5, USA 4
1952 Summer 31 Helsinki Water Polo Italy ITA Qualifying Round Match #6 1 1952-07-25 ITA 16, IND 1