Bud Spencer

Bud Spencer, born Carlo Pedersoli in Naples on 31 October 1929 and died on 27 June 2016, was an Italian swimmer and water polo player who became far better known as a film actor. In 1950 he became the first Italian to swim the 100 metres freestyle in under a minute, with 59.5 seconds at Salsomaggiore, and he won Italian titles in freestyle and relay events. He swam the 100 metres freestyle at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, reaching the semi-finals both times. He won silver in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1951 Mediterranean Games, and as a water polo player for Lazio he won the 1954 Italian championship and the gold medal at the 1955 Mediterranean Games with the national team. His sporting career ended abruptly in 1957, and the Italian Swimming Federation honoured him with its Caimano d'oro in 2005.