Paolo Pucci

Paolo Pucci was an Italian swimmer and water polo player. Tall, at 196 centimetres, he was the first Italian swimmer to win a title at the European Championships, which he did at Budapest in 1958, with a European record of 56.0 in the 100 freestyle semi-finals. He won his gold the next day, and added a silver at those Europeans in the 4x200 freestyle relay and a bronze in the medley relay.

In 1959 Pucci won three Italian titles and won three gold medals at the Mediterranean Games in Beirut, in the 100m freestyle and the two relays, also helping Italy win gold in water polo. At the 1959 Universiade in Torino, Pucci won gold in the relay and bronze in the 100 m freestyle. His palmarès included six national records in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Retiring before the 1960 Roma Olympics due to injuries, he later dedicated himself to the profession of pharmacist in Viterbo.