Carla Marangoni, 102, the oldest surviving Olympic medalist, passed away on January 18th.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) press release recalls that she was the only survivor of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam where, with her companions who made history with the nickname of Piccole Pavesi (Pavie’s youngsters), she had won the silver medal in team artistic gymnastics.

It was the very first Olympic medal won by an Italian female athlete.

Clara (known as Carla), was not yet 13 years old when she reached the podium with Bianca Ambrosetti, Lavinia Gianoni, Luigina Giavotti, Luigina Perversi, Diana Pizzavini, Luisa Tanzini, Carolina Tronconi, Ines Vercesi and Rita Vittadini .

The only medalist still alive from the far away black and white Olympic Games, Carla Marangoni will remain in the history of Italian sport and the Olympic movement – comments the CONI communiqué.