:
:
Logo MILANO CORTINA 2026 International Olympic Committee
Logo Omega Official Timekeeper
Porzio brothers, Weissensteiner, Di Centa, Buffon, Piccinini, Di Francisca and Montano inducted into the Walk of Fame
CONI
Seven new plaques have been added to the Walk of Fame of Italian sport. At the Foro Italico, CONI President Giovanni Malagò and Secretary General Carlo Mornati unveiled tiles dedicated to athletes who have carried the Italian flag with pride on the international stage: the brothers Franco and Pino Porzio (water polo), Gerda Weissensteiner (luge and bobsleigh), Giorgio Di Centa (cross-country skiing), Gianluigi Buffon (football), Francesca Piccinini (volleyball), Elisa Di Francisca (fencing) and Aldo Montano (fencing).
It was a powerful ceremony (photo by Ferdinando Mezzelani, GMT), bringing together icons from a range of disciplines united by a deep love for the blue jersey and years of dedication and honour. “Franco and Pino will now be together for eternity,” said Malagò, opening the event with the Porzio brothers, who won gold with the national team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. “It’s always been our dream,” they responded. “It would take too long just to list all of Gerda’s achievements,” the CONI President continued, referring to Weissensteiner, the first and only Italian athlete to win Winter Olympic medals in two different sports. The former luge and bobsleigh star said she was “truly honoured” and thanked CONI and the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) for the opportunities received.
Next came Giorgio Di Centa, of whom Malagò remarked: “He’s both the brother and father of champions. His gold medal in the 50 km cross-country ski race at Torino 2006 is an epic feat now carved in stone.” Di Centa responded: “It’s a great honour to be chosen. I thank the military sports corps that raised me, FISI and CONI. We now look ahead to our home Olympics in Milano-Cortina: best of luck to our athletes.”
Then came Gianluigi Buffon, World Cup winner with the Italian national team under coach Marcello Lippi in Germany 2006 whom the CONI President introduced in the following manner: “There’s nothing I need to say about what he’s done in the world of sport and football. Today he’s also a manager. He’s a friend, not just because of the World Cup. He is the greatest goalkeeper of all time,” said Malagò. Gigi was visibly proud: “I thank CONI and President Malagò, who always gives special attention to athletes in all sports. When we take to the field, we fight for ourselves and for our country. And this country needs to recover its memory and remember its own history.”
Also in Germany, but in 2002, Francesca Piccinini won a world title with the national volleyball team. “A plaque that is overdue, fully deserved, and absolutely necessary,” said Malagò. “Francesca Piccinini was a towering athlete with an extraordinary career: it’s hard to count her victories. I proposed this honour ten years ago, but she wouldn’t retire…” The former Italian volleyball spiker said she was “particularly moved” by the recognition.
The final tributes were for fencing. “She is someone who helped write the history of Italian sport. In my mind, I had hoped she would never stop competing. You were amazing,” said Malagò as he introduced Elisa Di Francisca, who won individual and team gold in foil at London 2012, followed by individual silver at Rio 2016. “I retired at a very particular time,” she said, visibly emotional. “I felt I had done all I could, and it was during the Covid pandemic. I wanted to step away at the top and chose to have my second child. Now my children will be able to see this plaque even when I’m no longer here.” Finally, it was the turn of Aldo Montano, individual sabre champion at Athens 2004 and four-time team medallist. “This plaque is a way of saying thank you to a great champion, a sign of recognition and gratitude,” said Malagò. “It’s beautiful and emotional. When you stop competing, you are left with a memory that lasts forever – proof that you did something meaningful for your country,” Montano concluded.
Nuovi ingressi nella Walk of Fame con i fratelli Porzio, Weissensteiner, Buffon, Di Centa, Piccinini, Di Francisca e Montano
