Former 200-metre world record holder Pietro Mennea dies

Mennea, who held the 200-metre world record for 17 years, died from an unspecified illness at a hospital in Rome this morning.

A statement published on coni.it read: "Italian sport is in mourning. We are tearful and emotional after Pietro Mennea died in a Roman clinic this morning following a long-term illness.

"The sprinter, who won a gold medal in the 200m at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow and defended the world record at that distance for more than 16 years, was born in Barletta on June 28, 1952."