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Ricky Petrucciani

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Ricky Petrucciani
Petrucciani (centre) in 2023
Personal information
Born (2000-06-30) 30 June 2000 (age 24)
Locarno, Ticino, Switzerland
EducationCollegio Papio
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
CountrySwitzerland
SportAthletics
Event400 metres
ClubLC Zürich
Coached byFlavio Zberg
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Switzerland
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Munich 400 m
European U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Tallinn 400 m
European U20 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Borås 400 m

Ricky Petrucciani (Italian pronunciation: [petrutˈtʃaːni]; born 30 June 2000) is a Swiss sprinter specialising in the 400 metres.[1] He won a gold medal at the 2021 European U23 Championships and a silver medal at the 2022 European Championships in the 400m category.[2] He also reached the semifinals of the 2020 Olympics.

Early life and background

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Ricky Petrucciani was born on 30 June 2000 in Locarno, Switzerland to a Brazilian mother and a Swiss father.

He began his athletic career in 2015 when he decided to switch from playing football to athletics. He explained the reason was because he "wanted to train for [himself] and not for a team, [he] wanted to achieve [his] results and not those of a team.” [3]

He started working with Flavio Zberg in 2017 and transferred clubs so that he could train with LC Zürich. His father, Maurizio, acts as his manager.[4] Ricky graduated from Collegio Papio and serves as an ambassador for the Ascona-Locarno region.[5]

Career

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2016—2019

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Petrucciani claimed several national titles as a junior. He competed in the 400 metres at the 2016 Swiss U18 Championships, came in first place, and was named the champion for that year.

The following year, he collected six more titles at the 2017 Swiss U18 Championships for: the indoor 60 metres, outdoor 100 metres, indoor and outdoor 200 metres, and indoor and outdoor 400 metres.

He added yet another national title to his record in the 100 metres at the 2018 Swiss U20 Championships. He earned two extra titles in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2019 Swiss U20 Championships.

2021

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He earned a gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2021 European U23 Championships, where he set a new championship record and a personal best of 45.02 that still stands to this day. He also ran the second leg of the 4 x 400 m relay, however, his team did not finish because of a mishap between the Dutch and British athletes that made the third Swiss runner trip during the race. The Swiss lost their lead within moments.[6]

2023

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He was selected for the 2023 World Championships and ran the third leg of the mixed 4 x 400 m relay. But, ultimately, the Swiss team failed to advance to the final round. Later, he withdrew from his individual event in the 400 metres due to a hamstring problem that had not healed from the previous day's relay race. He did not want to injure himself, as well, ahead of Weltklasse Zürich, the Galà dei Castelli, and the 2024 Olympics.[7]

Achievements

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Personal bests

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International competitions

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Notes
Representing  Switzerland
2016 European Youth Championships Tbilisi, Georgia 21st (h) 400 m 49.75
11th (h) Medley relay 2:00.52
2017 European U20 Championships Grosseto, Italy 10th (sf) 400 m 47.41
6th 4 × 400 m relay 3:11.67
2018 World U20 Championships Tampere, Finland 18th (sf) 400 m 47.39
9th (h) 4 × 400 m relay 3:09.48
European Championships Berlin, Germany – (h) 4 × 400 m relay DQ
2019 European Indoor Championships Glasgow, United Kingdom 16th (h) 400 m 47.83
European U20 Championships Borås, Sweden 3rd 400 m 46.34
2021 European Indoor Championships Toruń, Poland 7th (sf) 400 m 46.72
European U23 Championships Tallinn, Estonia 1st 400 m 45.02 CR
— (f) 4 x 400 m relay DNF
Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 14th (sf) 400 m 45.26
2022 World Championships Eugene, United States 34th (h) 400 m 46.60
European Championships Munich, Germany 2nd 400 m 45.03
– (h) 4 × 400 m relay DNF
2023 European Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 20th (h) 400 m 47.32
European Team Championships First Division Chorzów, Poland 8th 4 x 400 m relay mixed 3:14.22 NR
World Championships Budapest, Hungary 400 m DNS
11th (h) 4 x 400 m relay mixed 3:14.38 (44.61 split)
2024 European Championships Rome, Italy 14th (sf) 400 m 45.47
4 × 400 m relay DQ

National titles

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ricky Petrucciani at World Athletics
  2. ^ "Européens multisports: Ricky Petrucciani, formidable, s'offre l'argent sur 400m".
  3. ^ Adey, Oliver. "Ricky Petrucciani sprints to silver". Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Ricky Petrucciani, a rising star in track and field events". Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Profile - Ricky Petrucciani". Ricky Petrucciani. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Joy, frustration and a great result at the end in Tallinn". Swiss Athletics. Swiss Athletics. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Four Swiss athletes are happy about qualifying for the semi-finals". Swiss Athletics. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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