Raffaello Ducceschi

Raffaello Ducceschi (born 25 February 1962)^[3] is an Italian former race walker who took fifth and eighth place in two Olympic Games.^[4]

Raffaello Ducceschi

Ducceschi in 1987
Personal information
Full name	Raffaello Fabio Ducceschi
National team	Italy: 11 caps (1983-1989)[1]
Born	(1962-02-25) 25 February 1962 (age 63) Sesto San Giovanni, Italy
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Race walk
Club	G.S. Fiamme Oro
Retired	1992[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	20 km walk: 1:24:55 (1984) 50 km walk: 3:44.27 (1988)
Medal record Universiade 1987 Zagreb 20 km walk World Race Walking Cup 1987 New York City Team 1989 L'Hospitalet Team 1985 St. John's Team

Biography

Ducceschi at work in Barcelona

Ducceschi won one medal, at individual level, at the International athletics competitions.^[5] He participated at two Summer Olympic Games (1984 and 1988), he has 11 caps in national team from 1983 to 1989.^[6]

Twice a finalist in the 50 kilometres race walk at the Olympic Games (in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988), his best result was the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, when though struck with dysentery during the race and being forced to stop along the roadside several times, he was able to reach the finish line, taking fourth place.

He was trained from 1980 to 1984 by Roberto Vanzillotta, 1985–1986 by Antonio La Torre, the first half of 1987 by Peter Pastorini, and from May 1987 to all of 1988 by Sandro Damilano in Saluzzo with Maurizio and Giorgio Damilano.

Having carried out a career as an athlete, Duccechi moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he is a professional graphic designer and teaches at the university.^[7] Since 2001 he has been practicing and teaching Fitwalking.^[8]

Statistics

National records

• 50 km walk: 3:44:27 ( Molfetta, 17 April 1988) until 13 August 1994^[1]

Personal bests

• 10 km walk (track): 40:56 ( Cittadella, 10 May 1987)^[2]
• 20 km walk: 1:24:55 ( Piacenza, 13 May 1984)^[2]
• 20 km walk (track) 1:27:28 ( Mestre, 14 April 1984)^[2]
• 50 km walk: 3:44:27 ( Molfetta, 17 April 1988)^[9]

Progression

  Personal Best

50 km walk

Year	Time	Venue	Date
1988	3:44:27	Molfetta	17 April
1987	3:47:49	Rome	5 September
1986	3:56:42	Stuttgart	31 August
1984	3:59:26	Los Angeles	11 August

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time	Notes
1984	Olympic Games	Los Angeles	5th	50 km	3:59:26
1985	World Race Walking Cup	St John's	5th	50 km	3:59:55
			3rd	Team	233 pts	[10]
1986	European Championships	Stuttgart	13th	50 km	3:56.42
1987	World Student Games	Zagreb	1st	20 km	1.25:02
	World Race Walking Cup	New York City	10th	50 km	3:52:29
			2nd	Team	569 pts	[10]
	World Championships	Rome	4th	50 km	3:47.49
1988	Olympic Games	Seoul	8th	50 km	3:45:43
1989	World Race Walking Cup	L'Hospitalet	35th	50 km	4:09:06
			2nd	Team	534 pts	[10]

National titles

Ducceschi won three national championships at individual senior level.^[11][12]

• Italian Athletics Championships
  • 50 km walk: 1983, 1984, 1988 (3)

Honours

CONI: Golden Collar of Sports Merit: Collare d'Oro al Merito Sportivo^[13]

See also

• Italian all-time lists - 50 km walk
• Italian team at the running events
• Italy at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup
• Italy at the European Race Walking Cup