Sports in Mandello del Lario: A Successful Story

In Mandello del Lario there are numerous Sports Associations that promote sports activities of various kinds throughout the year.

An important part of the sports history of Mandello del Lario dates back to the 1920s with the Gruppo Sportivo Moto Guzzi (Moto Guzzi Sports Group). The Cral Moto Guzzi was one of the first initiatives promoted by the company to create moments of leisure and meeting between employees. The initiative was inaugurated on April 28, 1959 not only for the employees of the major industrial complex of the town, but also for all residents.

The facility, which became a municipal property in the late '70s, is now home to the Centro Sportivo Comunale (Municipal Sports Center) managed by the Polisportiva Mandello (Mandello Sports Association).

Thanks to the Gruppo Sportivo Moto Guzzi, many talented young athletes have represented Mandello del Lario around the world in a variety of sports disciplines: from skiing to cycling, from athletics to bocce, and even mountaineering, football, boxing, tennis, swimming, motorcycling and rowing.

However, the Moto Guzzi brand is remembered especially for two sports disciplines: motorcycling and rowing.

Motorcycling

Moto Guzzi, famous Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1921 by Carlo Guzzi and Giorgio Parodi, made its debut in the competitions in September 1921.

With the participation in several competitions at an international level, the company started to become more and more famous. These include the 1924 European Championship, and the 1949 World Championship, won by Bruno Ruffo on a Moto Guzzi 250.

1957 is a very important year for Moto Guzzi: in agreement with other Italian manufacturers (Gilera and Mondial), the company signs the famous “Pull out agreement”, withdrawing as a matter of fact from all competitions. By the time of its pull out from Grand Prix racing, Moto Guzzi had won 3,329 official races, 8 World Championships, 6 Constructor's Championships and 11 Isle of Man TT victories.

Rowing

In 1948, a legendary team, belonging to the most famous Italian Rowing Association - the Moto Guzzi of Mandello del Lario – wins the Olympic gold on the Thames at Henley, in the 1948 London Olympics. The team was composed of Moioli, Morille, Invernizzi and Faggi.

An outstanding triumph for four simple workers; so much so that the company was so grateful that they decided to promote their four rowers to the category of "employees", giving each of them a shiny new Guzzino: at the time, it was a fabulous prize!
The team continued to collect triumphs throughout the continent for four years: in 1949 and 1950 the team climbed again on the highest step of the European podium. The adventure continued without stops until Helsinki 1952 when, not used to the salt waters of the fjords, the team lost their title of Olympic champions.