Italy at the 1896 Summer Olympics

1896 was the first modern Olympic games and hence the appearance of Italy at the Athens Summer Olympics marked their first Olympic appearance.^[1] It took place from 6 to 15 April 1896.^[2] Italy did not win an Olympic medal at these Games.^[3] The delegation consisted of five athletes competing in four sports and five events. There were also supposed to be four others, but none of them started. However, Giuseppe Rivabella was the only one able to compete.^[4]

Out of the five athletes Rivabella was the only one able to compete.^[4] He was an Italian civil engineer, who worked in Athens and on Samos Island. While working on Samos, the locals described a “well-made thing” as a “ripabella” after him.^[5] Carlo Airoldi, a marathon runner, was disqualified due to him receiving prize money in athletics events and him therefore not being an amateur. Airoldi appealed because his prize money was not for winning, but for carrying one other runner to the end of the race as he was hurt. The money give was to pay for a train ride back to his home city and was as a reward for his help. He had walked to Athens from Milan for over 2000 kilometres. He did this because he was not able to pay for transport.^[6] Angelo Porciatti, full name Angelo Pietro Giuseppe Porciatti, was a cyclist who was also unable to compete, he was born on 1 July 1872 to a noble Lombard family.^[7][8] Giuseppe Caruso and Vincenzo Baroni were two fencers, both of whom did not start.^[9][10]

Airoldi did not start in the men's marathon event, as he was disqualified for not being an amateur.^[6]

Porciatti was due to participate in the men's road race on 12 April, which was from Athens to Marathon and back, but did not start.^[11]