Gymnastics: Franco Menichelli, gold medallist at Tokyo ’64, has died

Turin, 28 January (LaPresse) – Franco Menichelli has passed away at the age of 85. The “Blue Angel”, gold medallist in the floor exercise at the 1964 Tokyo Games, with silver in the rings and bronze in the parallel bars, was also a key player in the historic team bronze at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, when he won the first post-war medal at Caracalla alongside Giovanni Carminucci, Angelo Vicardi, Pasquale Carminucci, Gianfranco Marzolla and Orlando Polmonari, coached by Swiss Jack Günthard. In the only Italian edition of the Summer Games, the Roman Menichelli also won another bronze medal in the floor exercise. ‘Italian sport sends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire gymnastics world. The Italian Gymnastics Federation, President Facci and the entire Federal Executive Committee join in mourning with his wife Gabriella and daughters Cristiana and Francesca,’ reads the Federation’s statement.