Athlete of the Week : Marco GALIAZZO (ITA)

 Marco GALIAZZO is famous for shooting his best when it counts most. He made sensation as a 21-year-old at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, when he became the individual champion (photo). In doing so, he became the first Olympic gold medallist in the history of Italian archery.   Following his Olympic performance, GALIAZZO soon reached the 1st spot of the World Ranking. He competed in his second Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, where Italy barely missed the gold medal against Korea on the last arrow. He was eliminated from the individual competition in the second round.   The archer from Padova won his second major individual title in 2009 : the World Cup Final. He went on to add another major title to his track record in early 2012 : the individual indoor world championship gold medal.   At the London 2012 Olympic Games, Marco GALIAZZO and teammates Michele FRANGILLI and Mauro NESPOLI advanced round after round in the team competition, and made their way to the gold medal match against the United States. In a scenario reminiscent of 2008, the gold medal came down to the last arrow. The victory was for Italy this time – second Olympic gold medal for Marco GALIAZZO ! He became the fifth man since 1972 to have won two archery Olympic gold medals in archery after Darrell PACE, Justin HUISH (USA), PARK Kyung-Mo and IM Dong-Hyun (KOR). The Italian is the second man after Justin HUISH to have won both an individual and team Olympic gold medal in archery.   Biography Extract :   Marco GALIAZZO (ITA) – Born on 7 May 1983    1st Team Olympic Games – London 2012 2nd Team European Championships – Amsterdam 2012 1st Individual Indoor World Championships – Las Vegas 2012 3rd Team World Championships – Turin 2011 1st Mixed Team European Championships – Rovereto 2010 1st Individual World Cup Final – Copenhagen 2009 2nd Team Olympic Games – Beijing 2008 1st Team European Championships – Vittel 2008 1st Team Indoor World Championships – Izmir 2007 1st Individual Olympic Games – Athens 2004 1st Individual European Championships – Brussels 2004 1st Team Indoor World Championships – Nîmes 2003     More results information on Marco GALIAZZO and all other archers at the World Archery website.   World Archery Communication