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Italian National Team Coach Castagnetti Dies at 66
Alberto Castagnetti, the head swim coach of the Italian National Team since 1987, has died at the age of 66.
Alberto Castagnetti with Federica Pellegrini celebrating her victory at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Castagnetti, in addition to his duties with the national team, was the personal coach for Federica Pellegrini, who won the gold medal in the 200m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics. He was also a very outspoken critic of the high-tech, polyurethane suits that have since been banned, even going so far as to refer to them as "technological doping."
Castagnetti was recovering from heart surgery at his home in Verona when he passed away, according to a statement released by the Italian Swimming Federation. The actual cause of his death was not immediately released.
The coach was an outstanding swimmer in his own right and was a member of the 1972 Italian Olympic team.
