Agostino Abbagnale

Agostino Abbagnale (born 25 August 1966) is an Italian rower and triple Olympic gold medalist. He is the younger brother of multiple Olympic medalists Carmine Abbagnale and Giuseppe Abbagnale.

Early life and family Abbagnale was born in the hamlet of Messigno, Pompei, into the rowing dynasty headed by his elder brothers Giuseppe and Carmine. He began training on the Sarno river under their uncle-coach Giuseppe La Mura and by 19 had stroked the Italian eight to silver at the 1985 World Rowing Championships in Hazewinkel. only minutes after his brothers triumphed in the coxed pair.

After the medal ceremony, Abbagnale, who is a poor swimmer, jumped into the rowing lake and landed on one of his partners Davide Tizzano, knocking the gold medal out of his hand. It took scuba divers two days to recover the missing medal. Health setback and comeback Weeks later he was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis linked to a congenital protein-C deficiency, forcing a five-year hiatus from competition. In 2000 coach-physician Giuseppe La Mura explained that lifetime anticoagulant therapy made banned substances "a lethal combination" for the rower, rebutting doping rumours.

Abbagnale returned to the Olympic stage at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, teaming with Davide Tizzano to win the Gold in the double scull (2x).

Persistent recurrences of thrombosis forced his retirement in 2003.

Post-competitive career and honours Abbagnale became a national junior coach and technical consultant for the Italian Rowing Federation. In 2006, he was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal, given by FISA, the governing board for international rowing. The Thomas Keller Medal is awarded for an outstanding career in international rowing. Abbagnale's brothers Carmine and Giuseppe had been awarded the Thomas Keller Medal in 1997.

Achievements Olympic Medals: 3 Gold World Championship Medals: 2 Gold and 2 Silver. Thomas Keller Medal Awarded in 2006 for an outstanding career in international rowing.

Olympic Games 2000 – Gold, Quadruple Scull 1996 – Gold, Double Scull 1988 – Gold, Quadruple Sculls

World Championships 2002 – Silver, Double Scull 1999 – 7th, Quadruple Scull 1998 – Gold, Quadruple Scull 1997 – Gold, Quadruple Scull 1995 – 13th, Double Scull 1987 – 11th, Quadruple Scull 1985 – Silver, Eight

Legacy Italian media routinely describe him as “il più grande canottiere italiano di tutti i tempi,” the greatest Italian oarsman of all time, citing both his longevity and his pioneering fight against serious illness.