Antonietta Di Martino (born 1 June 1978) is a retired Italian high jumper. She currently holds the Italian national women's high jump record at 2.03 metres for outdoor events and 2.04 metres for indoor events. She also currently holds the women's all-time highest jump-differential, meaning she has jumped the highest (0.35 metres) more than her own height.

Her first significant international achievement was winning a silver medal at the 2007 European Indoor Championships in Birmingham. In the same year, she won the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. After a disappointing Olympics in Beijing, she won her first gold medal at the European Indoor Championships in 2011 in Paris and the bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. In 2012, she won another silver medal at the World Indoor Championships.

Biography Early years (1990–2001) Di Martino was born in Cava de' Tirreni. Her athletics history began at the age of 12 at the Youth Games, which highlighted her beginnings. Coincidentally, the high jump was not her first speciality. For much of her youth, she practised the javelin throw and continued trying for multiple disciplines. She debuted in the national team for heptathlon in the European Cup in 2001.

Early achievements (2001–2006) Her skills as a high jumper were first discovered in July 2001, during the Italian Championship in Catania when her jump raised her personal best from 1.93 to 1.98 meters, thus equalling the personal best of accomplished Italian high-jumper Antonella Bevilacqua. A month later, she was able to reach the world finals where she finished twelfth at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. In 2006, she finished fifth at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow and tenth at the European Championships in Gothenburg.

The Golden year - 2007 In February 2007, she cleared 2.00 metres in Banská Bystrica, breaking Sara Simeoni's previous Italian indoor record of 1.98 m. She followed this up with a silver medal at the 2007 European Indoor Championships, where she jumped 1.96 m.

Di Martino also won the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships, having jumped 2.03 m. Her 2008 season was not so successful, and she managed only the tenth position at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and closed the year carrying a serious toe injury, making her consider retiring from the sport.Sampaolo, Diego (21 January 2010). From the brink of retirement, Di Martino finds new motivation. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.

Her return (2009–2012)

In September 2009, she changed coaches and experienced a resurgence in her form. She won the Italian Indoor Championships, but illness ruled her out of the 2009 European Indoor Championships a few months later. She took bronze at the 2009 European Team Championships and soon after, she beat Blanka Vlašić to win the Golden Gala meeting, jumping 2.00 m in Rome. She cleared 1.99 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, securing a fourth-place finish. She capped off the year with a bronze at the final edition of the World Athletics Final.

Antonietta Di Martino won the gold medal at the 2010 European Team Championships, but did not even pass the qualifying round at the 2010 European Athletics Championships. She rebounded at the start of the 2011 season, jumping to an Italian indoor record of 2.04 m in Banská Bystrica in Slovakia.Gordon, Ed (10 February 2011). Ukhov again over 2.38m, Di Martino surprises with 2.04m in Banska Bystrica. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-14. She continued with her good form in March by winning the European Indoor Championship in Paris with 2.01 m.

Records and achievements Her personal best outdoor jump is 2.03 metres, achieved on 24 June 2007, in Milan by surpassing her own previous Italian record of 2.02 m, while her best indoor result came at an indoor high jump meeting in Slovakia on 9 February 2011 with a new national record of 2.04 m. Standing at only 1.69 m, this jump is the unofficial women's world record for the highest jump over her own height (at 35 cm). Di Martino used to be active in heptathlon, achieving a personal best of 5542 points (2001).

Missing the 2012 Summer Olympics Di Martino suffered an injury on her knee in April 2012, just four months before the Olympic Games. She was forced to temporarily stop training. However, the National Athletics Federation (FIDAL) underestimate the nature of the injury, which was diagnosed in the three weeks of rehabilitation. But less than a month before the Olympics, they learned that the injury was more serious than expected, forcing her to undergo surgery, ruling her out of London. Her knee surgery was performed just a few days before the race in the Olympics high jump.

Her coach in an interview, accused the FIDAL have underestimated the nature of the injury and failing to ensure an athlete who has contributed immensely to Italian sport the right care at the time of rehabilitation.

National records High jump outdoor: 2.03 m ( Milan, 24 June 2007 and Osaka, 2 September 2007) - current holder High jump indoor: 2.04 m ( Banská Bystrica, 9 February 2009) - current holder

Achievements

Antonietta Di Martino made 12 career jumps over 2.00 m (bolded in the table). Year Competition Venue Position Event Measure Note2001World Championships Edmonton, Canada12thHigh jump1,85 m 2006World Indoor Championships Moscow, Russia5thHigh jump 1,96 m European Championships Gothenburg, Sweden10thHigh jump1,92 m 2007European Indoor Championships Birmingham, United Kingdom2ndHigh jump1,96 m World Championships Osaka, Japan2ndHigh jump2,03 m 2008World Indoor Championships Valencia, Spain10thHigh jump 1,93 m European Cup Annecy, France2ndHigh jump1,95 mOlympic GamesBeijing, China7thHigh jump1.93 m2009European Team Championships Leiria, Portugal3dHigh jump2,00 mMediterranean Games Pescara, Italy1stHigh jump1,97 m World Championships Berlin, Germany3rdHigh jump1,99 m2010European Team Championships Bergen, Norway1stHigh jump2,00 m Diamond League 2ndHigh jump details2011European Indoor Championships Paris, France1stHigh jump2,01 mWorld Championships Daegu, South Korea3dHigh jump2,00 m2012World Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey2ndHigh jump 1,95 m

Other meetings and championships Year Competition Venue Position Event Measure Note2006British Grand Prix Gateshead, United Kingdom3rdHigh jump1,94 m Golden Gala Rome, Italy11thHigh jump1,80 m Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium5thHigh jump1,95 m2007Europa SC High Jump Banská Bystrica, Slovakia2ndHigh jump2,00 mMemorial Primo NebioloTurin, Italy1stHigh jump2,02 m Bislett Games Oslo, Norway6thHigh jump1,90 mEuropean Cup (first league)Milan, Italy1stHigh jump2,03 m IAAF World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany2ndHigh jump1,97 m2009Golden Gala Rome, Italy1stHigh jump2,00 m IAAF World Athletics Final Thessaloniki, Greece3rdHigh jump1,97 m2010Golden Gala Rome, Italy2ndHigh jump1,95 mItalian Athletics ChampionshipsGrosseto, Italy1stHigh jump2,01 m2011Europa SC High JumpBanská Bystrica, Slovakia1stHigh jump2,04 m Spanish Athletics ChampionshipsMálaga, Spain1stHigh jump2,00 mRieti Meeting Rieti, Italy1stHigh jump1,96 m

National championships Antonietta Di Martino has won the individual national championship 10 times. 6 wins in High jump outdoor (2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) 4 wins in High jump indoor (2003, 2006, 2007, 2009)

Progression Antonietta Di Martino ranked 15 times in the top 25 of the world for the season list. Her 2.04 m indoor is also the 8th best performance of all time.

Outdoor YearPerformanceVenueDateWorld Rank2011 2.00 Daegu 3 Sep 32.00 Málaga 7 Aug 2010 2.01 Grosseto 30 Jun 42009 2.00 Rome 10 Jul 62.00 Leiria 21 Jun 2008 1.97 Milan 2 Jul 152007 2.03 Osaka 2 Sep 22.03 Milan 24 Jun 2006 1.94 London 28 Jul 141.94 Gateshead 11 Jun 2005 1.90 Marano 21 May 2004 1.86 Rome 15 May 2003 1.90 Barcelona 11 Jul 2002 1.91 Desenzano del Garda 11 May 2001 1.98 Catania 7 Jul 82000 1.88 Matera 20 Sep

Indoor YearPerformanceVenueDateWorld Rank2012 1.95 Istanbul 10 Mar 81.95 Istanbul 9 Mar 2011 2.04 Banská Bystrica 9 Feb 12009 1.96 Turin 21 Feb 82008 1.97 Stockholm 21 Feb 122007 2.00 Banská Bystrica 13 Feb 42006 1.96 Moscow 12 Mar 82003 1.96 Birmingham 21 Feb 182001 1.90 Genoa 21 Jan 24

High Jump Differentials

All time lists of athletes with the highest recorded jumps above their own height.

AthleteBornTallJumpYearDiff.1 Antonietta Di Martino 1978 1.69 2.04i 2011 0.352 Kajsa Bergqvist 1976 1.75 2.08i 2006 0.33 Niki Bakoyianni 1968 1.70 2.03 19984 Yolanda Henry 1964 1.68 2.00i 1990 0.32 Emilia Dragieva 1965 1.68 2.00i 19876 Marie Collonvillé 1973 1.63 1.94 1997 0.31

See also Female two metres club Italian all-time top lists - High jump Italian records in athletics Women's high jump Italian record progression Women's high jump winners of Italian Athletics Championships

Notes

References

External links

Official Website