This is from the other Italian website, Schermanet.it, quoting an article on the Gazzetta dello Sport:
http://www.schermanet.it/modules.php...rder=1&thold=0
"Mangiarotti Parries Against Time: 90 years old and still a champion"
by Marisa Poli
Dario, Olympic epeeist in 1952, celebrates at the family Club "I keep on teaching"
"Kids, come on up and fight me. I'll still beat you all." Ninety years of pure energy, Dario Mangiarotti challenges his young students in the fencing Sala in via Zarotto. This is where he teaches and where yesterday he celebrated an important birthday (the date is actually tomorrow).
Dario is the oldest brother in a family where fencing flows in their veins. Next to him is Edoardo, 86. They still have fun crossing blades together, as they've done so since they were kids, or to strike a pose with great care for the form, as they did for Olympic and World championships in the past, joined by the youngest brother Mario (85) who left fencing to dedicate himself to his profession as a cardiologist.
Many of his 390 students were at the party at the Circolo della Spada in via Zarotto, which has been the location of the Mangiarotti school for 25 years. This party was organized by the niece Carola, Edoardo's daughter, herself a participant in the Olympic games in Montreal in 1976, Moscow in 1908 (fifth in team), and Los Angeles in 1984 (fourth place).
Fencing is a true family business: it started with their father Giuseppe who studied foil for one month and then managed to beat the Italian champion and later became one of the greatest fencing maestri.
Epee has been Dario's life. He started by taking lessons from his own father, an innovator and a maestro who made an impact in the history of the sport. ("In Helsinki when Edoardo won the gold and I the silver, I though that these medals were for him [the father]. And don't say that I lost the final [finishing in second place]. It was a round, and with my last touch I won against Buck from Luxembourg and for Edoardo it was gold without a final DE.").
Dario continues to teach with the demeanor of one who knows what he's talking about, surrounded by young kids who keep on asking for an autograph. Twice a week in Milan, and three times a week in Lecco where about ten years ago they asked him for help in putting new life into that club. (one of his students is Fumigoni, who yesterday sent him a congratulatory note.)
"I've got so many beautiful memories, from Helsinki to Cairo, when I won the individual gold even though I had cramps in one leg. In fencing, says Dario, all that matters is strength, speed, but more than anything else your head." He remembers his training of never ending power-walks to the vacation home in Besana, Brianza, epic bike rides climbing the Stelvio and Pordoi mountain passes, boxing lessons with Erminio Spalla.
"Dario won more Italian titles" is the kind answer of Edoardo to anyone asking who was the better fencer, letting aside the advantage of 13 to 3 Olympic medals, a booty that makes the Mangiarotti brothers the number one brothers in victories in the history of the Olympic games.
"Whenever we had to fence each other, we always gave it our best and we always were happy for who ended up to be the winner. This is what fencing is about," says Dario who now is pegging his hopes on his 2 year old grandson, Giovanni, to continue with the family tradition.
Dario Mangiarotti Fencing Career
Olympic winner in team men's epee in Helsinki in 1952, where he also got the silver in the individual epee, behind his brother Edoardo;
5 times Epee World Champion (1949, individual; 1937, 1949, 1950, 1953, team);
6 individual Italian championships (1936, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1951, 1953).
Gold Medal recipient for Athletic Prowess for his Olympic and World Championships achievements.
Head Maestro of the Circolo della Spada Mangiarotti since 1967.
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