14 Facts About Nedo Nadi

Nedo Nadi was one of the best Italian fencers of all time.

Nedo Nadi was born in Livorno, Italy, the elder son of famous Italian fencing master, Giuseppe Nadi.

Nedo Nadi had a younger brother, Aldo who was an Olympic gold medallist in his own right.

Nedo Nadi's father taught him foil and sabre but believed the epee to be an "undisciplined" weapon and refused to teach it.

At the age of fourteen Nedo Nadi won a solid silver trophy for his three weapon work during the Jubilee celebration of Emperor Franz Joseph at Vienna.

Nedo Nadi served in the Italian Army during World War I and was decorated for bravery.

Nedo Nadi resumed his competitive career after World War I was over.

Nedo Nadi therefore decided to expand his chances for gold and entered all three fencing disciplines in the team events, as well as the individual foil and sabre.

Nedo Nadi won the individual foil gold medal with a record 10 wins in the final pool.

Nevertheless, Nedo Nadi led the Italian epee team, which included his brother Aldo, to the Olympic team gold medal.

Nedo Nadi did not compete in the individual epee event, however.

Nedo Nadi, carried in triumph by his opponents, added three team victories to his tally of two individual golds and his younger brother Aldo won three team gold and one silver to make the family total a record for any sport in one Olympic Games.

Nedo Nadi returned to Rome some years later and was reinstated as an amateur.

Nedo Nadi's teams performed well, dominating the games, with Italian fencers sweeping gold, silver, and bronze in the individual epee competitions, thus easily claiming the team epee gold; collecting the individual gold and bronze and team gold in foil; and the individual and team silver medals in sabre.