The man with sunglasses who drove Rome wild: Italy bids farewell to an Olympic legend

Italian sprinter Livio Berruti, who won gold in the 200 meters at the 1960 Rome Olympics, has passed away at the age of 87. Berruti, who equaled the world record twice that day with 20.5 seconds, was the first European to win the event. Italian President Sergio Mattarella issued a message of condolence.

Italian sprinter Livio Berruti, who won the gold medal in the 200 meters at the 1960 Rome Olympics, has passed away at the age of 87. Berruti, born in Turin in 1939, became the first European to win gold in this event, and equaled the world record twice that day with a time of 20.5 seconds in the semifinal and final. He beat American Lester Carney by a tenth of a second. Berruti, known for his sunglasses and white socks, won 14 national titles and represented Italy in three Olympics: Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, and Mexico City 1968. He retired in 1969. In 2006, he carried the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin. Italian President Sergio Mattarella issued a message of condolence.