Pietro Mennea

Pietro Paolo Mennea , also known as "La Freccia del Sud" ("the Arrow of the South"), was an Italian sprinter and politician. Mennea was born on June 28, 1952, in Barletta, Italy, and held Italian citizenship.

He was educated at the University of Bari and the University of Salerno. In addition to his athletic career, Mennea worked as a lawyer and a politician.

Some of Mennea's remarkable achievements as a sprinter include winning a gold medal in the 200-meter race at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, a bronze medal in the same event at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, and a silver medal at the 1977 World Cup held in Düsseldorf. He also clinched a gold medal in the 400-meter race at the 1978 European Indoor Championships in Milan.

Pietro Mennea passed away in Rome on March 21, 2013.