Giorgio Di Centa
Template:Short description Template:Infobox skier Giorgio Di Centa (born 7 October 1972 in Tolmezzo, Province of Udine) is an Italian former cross-country skier who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the individual 50 km freestyle race. He is the younger brother of Olympic gold medalist, cross-country skier Manuela Di Centa.
Biography
Di Centa began cross-county skiing very early in a family in which his elder brother Andrea was also a professional skier. At the age of 16 he became a member of Italy's junior team while also skiing for the Carabinieri sport team. He became a member of Italy's senior team in 1995. He finished 8th in the 30 km event at the 1998 Winter Olympics.[1]
After a silver medal at the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the double pursuit and a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in the 4 x 10 km. Di Centa, who had never won an individual race in the cross-country skiing World Cup, arrived in great shape for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He would finish a disappointing fourth in the 30 km double pursuit, losing a medal at the finish to fellow Italian Pietro Piller Cottrer. The two were also key players in the strongest Italian relay team ever, winning gold in the 4 x 10 km race.[1]
Di Centa's greatest victory was in the 50 km race where he defeated Russian Eugeni Dementiev by 0.8 seconds, the closest 50 km event in Olympic history, eclipsing Thomas Wassberg's 4.9 second victory over Gunde Svan (both Sweden) at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. The medals ceremony for the 50 km occurred during the Closing Ceremony where Di Centa's sister, Olympic medalist Manuela Di Centa, presented him with the gold medal. He won a bronze medal in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec.[1]
For the 2010 Winter Olympics, a picture of Di Centa in competition during the 50 km event at the previous Olympics was used as a pictogram for the cross-country skiing events. In September 2009, it was announced that Di Centa was named flagbearer for the opening ceremony for the 2010 Games.[1]
He retired on 1 March 2015 at the age of 42, after the end of the 50 km at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2015.
On 20 December 2015 he returned to the World Cup race in the 15 km classic in Toblach, Italy.
The father of three children, his daughter Martina competed for Italy at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Cross-country skiing.
Cross-country skiing results
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[2]
Olympic Games
- 3 medals – (2 gold, 1 silver)
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | 50 km | Sprint | 4 × 10 km relay |
Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 25 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 29 | — | 35 | 4 | — | 11 | — | Silver | — |
| 2006 | 33 | — | — | 4 | — | Gold | — | Gold | 9 |
| 2010 | 37 | — | 10 | 12 | — | 11 | — | 9 | — |
| 2014 | 41 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 5 | — |
World Championships
- 4 medals – (1 silver, 3 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | 50 km | Sprint | 4 × 10 km relay |
Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 24 | 17 | — | 12 | — | — | — | Bronze | — |
| 1999 | 26 | 18 | — | 11 | — | — | — | Bronze | — |
| 2001 | 28 | — | — | 18 | 34 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 30 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 32 | — | 14 | Silver | — | — | — | 4 | — |
| 2007 | 34 | — | 25 | 11 | — | 31 | — | 9 | — |
| 2009 | 36 | — | — | Bronze | — | 4 | — | 4 | — |
| 2011 | 38 | — | — | 10 | — | 9 | — | 5 | — |
| 2013 | 40 | — | — | 16 | — | 19 | — | 4 | — |
| 2015 | 42 | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | — |
World Cup
Season standings
| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Distance | Long Distance | Middle Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening |
Tour de Ski |
World Cup Final |
Ski Tour Canada | ||
| 1994 | 21 | NC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | 22 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | 23 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 24 | 16 | — | 27 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 25 | 45 | — | 35 | — | 63 | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 26 | 25 | — | 34 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 27 | 46 | — | 61 | 38 | 39 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 29 | 26 | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 30 | 11 | — | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 31 | 23 | 16 | — | — | NC | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 32 | 8 | 5 | — | — | NC | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 33 | 16 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 34 | 36 | 29 | — | — | 80 | — | 20 | — | — |
| 2008 | 35 | 5 | 7 | — | — | 38 | — | Template:Bronze03 | Template:Bronze03 | — |
| 2009 | 36 | 8 | 13 | — | — | 26 | — | 4 | 15 | — |
| 2010 | 37 | 10 | 6 | — | — | 102 | — | 10 | 10 | — |
| 2011 | 38 | 17 | 16 | — | — | 85 | 31 | 13 | 4 | — |
| 2012 | 39 | 31 | 27 | — | — | 77 | 31 | 15 | 15 | — |
| 2013 | 40 | 11 | 14 | — | — | 87 | 28 | 8 | 7 | — |
| 2014 | 41 | 55 | 52 | — | — | NC | 26 | 17 | — | — |
| 2015 | 42 | 104 | 62 | — | — | NC | 75 | 33 | — | — |
| 2016 | 43 | NC | NC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 44 | NC | NC | — | — | NC | — | DNF | — | — |
Individual podiums
- 1 victory – (1 WC)
- 13 podiums – (10 WC, 3 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996–97 | 12 January 1997 | Template:Flagicon Hakuba, Japan | 15 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 2 | 2000–01 | 28 December 2000 | Template:Flagicon Engelberg, Switzerland | 1.0 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 3 | 2003–04 | 25 January 2004 | Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme, Italy | 70 km Mass Start C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 4 | 2004–05 | 27 November 2004 | Template:Flagicon Rukatunturi, Finland | 15 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 5 | 12 February 2005 | Template:Flagicon Reit im Winkl, Germany | 15 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 6 | 2005–06 | 11 March 2006 | Template:Flagicon Oslo, Norway | 50 km Individual F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 7 | 2006–07 | 7 January 2007 | Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme, Italy | 11 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 8 | 2007–08 | 28 December 2007 – 6 January 2008 |
Template:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | 3rd |
| 9 | 22 January 2008 | Template:Flagicon Canmore, Canada | 15 km + 15 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 10 | 16 March 2008 | Template:Flagicon Bormio, Italy | 15 km Pursuit F | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 11 | 2008–09 | 4 January 2009 | Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme, Italy | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 12 | 2009–10 | 5 February 2010 | Template:Flagicon Canmore, Canada | 15 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st |
| 13 | 2010–11 | 19 March 2011 | Template:Flagicon Falun, Sweden | 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
Team podiums
- 7 victories – (2 RL, 5 TS)
- 23 podiums – (15 RL, 8 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995–96 | 25 February 1996 | Template:Flagicon Trondheim, Norway | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Albarello / Valbusa / Fauner |
| 2 | 1996–97 | 19 January 1997 | Template:Flagicon Lahti, Finland | 12 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Pozzi |
| 3 | 28 February 1997 | Template:Flagicon Trondheim, Norway | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Championships<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[1] | 3rd | Fauner / Piller Cottrer / Valbusa | |
| 4 | 1998–99 | 26 February 1999 | Template:Flagicon Ramsau, Austria | 4 × 10 km Relay M | World Championships<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[1] | 3rd | Valbusa / Maj / Fauner |
| 5 | 8 March 1999 | Template:Flagicon Vantaa, Finland | Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Zorzi | |
| 6 | 21 March 1999 | Template:Flagicon Oslo, Norway | 4 × 10 km Relay C | World Cup | 3rd | Fauner / Maj / Valbusa | |
| 7 | 1999–00 | 8 December 1999 | Template:Flagicon Asiago, Italy | Team Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd | Zorzi |
| 8 | 2000–01 | 13 December 2000 | Template:Flagicon Clusone, Italy | 10 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Zorzi |
| 9 | 2001–02 | 13 January 2002 | Template:Flagicon Nové Město, Czech Republic | 6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Zorzi |
| 10 | 3 March 2002 | Template:Flagicon Lahti, Finland | 6 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Zorzi | |
| 11 | 2002–03 | 24 November 2002 | Template:Flagicon Kiruna, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Valbusa / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi |
| 12 | 8 December 2002 | Template:Flagicon Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Schwienbacher / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi | |
| 13 | 19 January 2003 | Template:Flagicon Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Valbusa / Zorzi / Schwienbacher | |
| 14 | 26 January 2003 | Template:Flagicon Oberhof, Germany | 10 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Zorzi | |
| 15 | 14 February 2003 | Template:Flagicon Asiago, Italy | 10 × 1.4 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Zorzi | |
| 16 | 23 March 2003 | Template:Flagicon Falun, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Valbusa / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi | |
| 17 | 2004–05 | 21 November 2004 | Template:Flagicon Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Valbusa / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi |
| 18 | 12 December 2004 | Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme, Italy | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Valbusa / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi | |
| 19 | 20 March 2005 | Template:Flagicon Falun, Sweden | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Clara / Checchi / Piller Cottrer | |
| 20 | 2005–06 | 15 January 2006 | Template:Flagicon Val di Fiemme, Italy | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Checchi / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi |
| 21 | 2006–07 | 4 February 2007 | Template:Flagicon Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Checchi / Piller Cottrer / Santus |
| 22 | 2007–08 | 9 December 2007 | Template:Flagicon Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Checchi / Piller Cottrer / Zorzi |
| 23 | 2010–11 | 6 February 2011 | Template:Flagicon Rybinsk, Russia | 4 × 10 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Checchi / Clara / Piller Cottrer |
Template:Refbegin Note: <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>1 Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system. Template:Refend
See also
References
External links
Template:S-sportsTemplate:S-endScript error: No such module "Navbox".Script error: No such module "Navbox".- Pages with script errors
- 1972 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Tolmezzo
- Skiers from the Province of Udine
- Italian male cross-country skiers
- Cross-country skiers at the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Cross-country skiers at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Cross-country skiers at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Cross-country skiers at the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Cross-country skiers at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for Italy
- Olympic silver medalists for Italy
- Olympic cross-country skiers for Italy
- Olympic medalists in cross-country skiing
- Cross-country skiers of Centro Sportivo Carabinieri
- FIS Nordic World Ski Championships medalists in cross-country skiing
- Tour de Ski skiers
- Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- 20th-century Italian sportsmen