Livio Berruti, Olympic champion in the 200 meters at the 1960 Rome Games, has died at the age of 87. Berruti passed away after a period of illness at a clinic in Turin, his hometown. He is survived by his wife Silvia. The funeral will be held in private.

Born in Turin on May 19, 1939, Berruti took up athletics in 1955 at the Liceo Cavour, where he stood out in sprint events. He had hoped to pursue tennis at the Lancia sports center, but his results in running competitions persuaded him to continue with athletics. At the time of his Olympic victory, he was a chemistry student at the University of Padua.

On September 3, 1960, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Berruti ran both the semifinal and the final within roughly two hours. In the semifinal he clocked 20.5 seconds, equaling the world record and setting the Olympic record. He won the final with the same time, ahead of American Lester Carney, second in 20.6 seconds, and French-Senegalese Abdou Seye, third in 20.7 seconds. He was the first European sprinter to win Olympic gold in the 200 meters, ending the North American dominance in the event that had lasted since 1932.

For his victory he received 800,000 lire from CONI for the gold medal, 400,000 lire for the world record, and a Fiat 500 car as a gift. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he ran the same distance from the first lane, finishing fifth in 20.83 seconds and remaining the top European. The race was won by American Henry Carr in 20.36 seconds.

After his competitive career, Berruti worked in communications and advertising. In 2006 he was one of eight Italians chosen to carry the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the Turin Winter Games. His name appears on one of the plaques of the Walk of Fame of Italian sport in Rome, established by CONI. He was nicknamed the angel for the elegance of his stride and ran on the track with his unmistakable sunglasses and white socks.

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella expressed condolences, describing Berruti as a highly representative figure of Italian sport. Sprinter Marcell Jacobs said he would run in his honor at the upcoming European Championships in Birmingham. Fidal president Stefano Mei recalled how Berruti made the country fall in love with athletics. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani called him a legend.