Nicola Vizzoni (born 4 November 1973 in Pietrasanta, Province of Lucca) is a male hammer thrower from Italy. He won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and ten years later at the 2010 European Athletics Championships. His personal best throw is 80.50 metres, achieved in July 2001 in Formia.
He has won 19 medals (8 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze) at the International athletics competitions.[1] Vizzoni is the coach of the Italian national team for the hammer throw.
He made his first appearance at the World Championships in Athletics in 1997 but he did not make the final. In 1999 he finished seventh in the hammer throw final and the next year he took the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He just missed out on the podium at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, finishing fourth, but he gained regional honours with a gold at the 2001 Mediterranean Games and also won gold at the Summer Universiade.
He competed at the following two Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008, but was some distance off winning another medal. He became the Mediterranean champion for a second time with a win at the 2009 Mediterranean Games. Vizzoni made a strong start to the 2010 season, throwing 78.22 m early on and winning the gold at the 2010 European Cup Winter Throwing event.[2]
He is engaged to former Italian athlete Claudia Coslovich, national record holder of the javelin throw.[3]
He finished the season 8 times in world top 25.[4]
Nicola Vizzoni has been a finalist 10 times in his 17 appearances in the three major International athletics competitions.
Nicola Vizzoni has won the individual national championship 28 times.[7][8]
Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 27 September 2004[9]