Paola Pigni-Cacchi

Paola Pigni was the best Italian woman middle-distance runner of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Born in Milano, she began with Sport Club Italia, coached by Renzo Testa as a sprinter. After winning the 1966 Italian cross-country championship, she became the Italian #1 in the 400 and 800 metres. In 1967 she began working with Bruno Cacchi (1939-2019), who later became her husband.

Pigni had difficulty with injuries in 1967-68 and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1968 Olympics in the 800. In July 1969, at the Notturna Meeting in Milano, Pigni ran 1,500 metres in 4:12.4, a world record that took 3.2 seconds off the previous mark. She was favored at the 1969 Athina European Championships but placed third in the 1,500. In March 1970 Pigni won the Nation’s cross-country, an event that in 1973 became an official World Championship. She also won cross-country meets at Waregem in 1973 and at Monza in 1974.

After the birth of her daughter Chiara in March 1971, Pigni returned in 1972. The event had significantly improved in recent years, and her time of 4:02.85 in the final at the 1972 München Olympics brought her only a bronze medal, although she broke the Italian record in all three rounds. Later in 1972 she set a world record for 3,000 metres with 9:09.2 and improved that on 20 May 1973, in Formia, recording 8:56.6.

In 1973 she won all her cross-country meets. On 8 August in Viareggio Pigni captured the mile world record with 4:29.5 and won the 1,500 metre crown at the Universiade in Moskva. She finished her active career in 1977, as multiple tendon injuries and surgeries took their toll. Pigni set 29 Italian records and won 19 Italian titles: 400 m. (1965, 1967), 800 m. (1965-69, 1973), 1,500 m. (1970, 1972, 1974-75), 3,000 m. (1974), cross (1967-70, 1973-74). Internationally, from 1962-75, she earned 33 caps.

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:01.95 (1975); 1500 – 4:02.85 (1972).