Page 64 - Mediterraneo e dintorni - nr 1 -2020

PERSONAGGI/CELEBRITIES

60 anni fa la morte del“campionissimo”

Fausto Coppi

L’airone nel ricordo del figlio Angelo fausto jr

di Giusy Armone

n omino con le ruote, con gli occhi degli esordi e Fausto Coppi appare in un attimo: l’ai-
miti e neri ed un naso che divide- rone del ciclismo italiano rappresenta ancora, dopo
va il vento». Qualche nota di Gino sessant’anni dalla sua scomparsa, un esempio di
«UPaoli, la telecronaca di una scalata umanità e sportività. Nato il 15 settembre 1919 a Ca-
in bianco e nero, il video di una comparsata nella tv stellania, comune piemontese in provincia di Ales-
sandria, oggi di poco più di 90 abitanti, divenne il più
vincente ed apprezzato corridore della metà del ‘900
grazie alla sua straordinaria capacità di adattamento
a qualsiasi tipo di competizione su strada. A 18 anni
si affacciò al ciclismo, a 21 vinse già il Giro d’Italia.
La sua morte prematura, avvenuta il 2 gennaio 1960
all’ospedale di Tortona dov’era stato ricoverato a se-
guito della malaria contratta nel Burkina Fasu poche
settimane prima, stroncò una carriera sfavillante ma
indelebile per chi lo annovera tra le icone dello sport
di tutti i tempi.
Passista, scalatore, corridore completo. Ma anche
“Giusto fra le Nazioni” per aver salvato diversi
ebrei. Icona nazionale e mondiale dello sport: la me-
moria delle sue imprese è vivida, risuonano le sue
leggendarie cavalcate, le centinaia di vittorie e le ma-

60 yearS aGo tHe deatH oF tHe but indelible career for those who count a champion but also as a great man, for
“CaMPioNiSSiMo” FaUSto CoPPi him among the icons of sport of all time. his quiet and reserved character, for his
Rouleur, climber, complete runner. But generosity and for being a simple person
little man with wheels, with also “Righteous among the Nations” despite his exploits, always available for
“A mild black eyes and a nose that for having saved several Jews. Natio- others. my mother told me that she was
divided the wind”. A few notes by Gino nal and world sport icon: the memory always kind and loving with her, even
Paoli, the commentary on a black and of his incredible actions is vivid, his le- after many years of relationship». On
white climb, the video of an appearance gendary rides resound, the hundreds of the values of yesterday and today in
in TV in the early days and Fausto Cop- victories and the pink shirts of the Giro sport he states that «humility and suf-
pi appears in a flash: the Italian cycling and the yellow of the Tour de France. fering are fundamental because cycling
heron still represents, after sixty years These intense moments pulse in the cannot be invented. The current race
after his death, an example of humanity veins of Angelo Fausto junior, the son to specializations perhaps represents
and sportiness. Born on September 15th called “Faustino”, now 64, had with the desire to no longer suffer as before,
1919 he became the most successful and Giulia Occhini. He always brings the- looking only at one goal. Bartali was a
appreciated rider of the middle of the se memories around to talk about how a great rival of my father on the bicycle
‘900 thanks to his extraordinary abili- “normal” person can be capable of great but a great friend outside competitions,
ty to adapt to any type of competition actions. No one has inherited the passion a great man, a reference. Pantani was
on the road. At the age of 18 he took to for cycling and this, surely, contributes a dear friend to me and I’m sorry he
cycling, at 21 he already won the Giro to making the life of the famous Coppi was dragged into unedifying episodes,
d’Italia. His premature death, which even more epic. The spotlights come on it’s not all his fault, he was penalized
occurred on 2 January 1960 following only in memory of his father. «I’m glad by some circumstances. He was perhaps
the malaria contracted in Burkina Fasu that over time the affection for my father the last to give emotions in the Giro d’I-
a few weeks earlier, crushed a sparkling was nurtured. There was talk of him as talia.»

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