FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 2004 (Captain): gold; FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2001: gold; 1998: gold; 2003: silver; EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2003: gold; 1999: gold; 1997: gold; 1995: gold; 2001: silver; 1991: bronze; FINA WORLD CUP: 1993: silver; 1999: bronze; WORLD LEAGUE: 2004: bronze; SEVEN CONSECUTIVE ITALIAN TITLES WITH VOLTURNO (1985-1991); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES FLAG BEARER REPRESENTING HER COUNTRY, ITALY, AT CLOSING CEREMONIES;
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci was destined for greatness. Her leadership skills were evident from a young age, and this carried through her adult career where she took control of her Setterosa captaincy and guided the Italian women’s team through a golden era.
That era culminated in Olympic gold in Athens, in the Summer of 2004, with a triumph over the host nation in what was a thrilling encounter.
While Italy was not necessarily among the leading nations in the decades before women’s water polo was in the Olympic Games, once women were included in the Olympic program, the Italian team emerged, and within very such a short period of time, they rose to the pinnacle of the sport.
In fact, for Allucci to compete and win gold at the 2004 Olympics was the culmination of a tremendous career that began in the mid-1980s when she was a member of the Volturno club of Naples, that won seven consecutive Italian crowns.
In 1991, she gained her first taste of international competition at the European Championships, winning bronze. Allucci and her teammates went on to put together a string of incredible European Championship results which included winning four gold medals (1995, 1997, 1999, 2003) and a silver medal in 2001.
Continuing her international success in 1993, she claimed silver at the FINA World Cup and took home bronze in 1999 at the FINA World Cup. Italy’s performance at the FINA World Championships was even more spectacular, winning gold in 1998 and 2001 and silver in 2003.
After narrowly missing the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, Allucci and Italy came roaring back in 2004 and captured bronze in the FINA World League Super Final which set the stage for their spectacular performance in Athens, ultimately winning gold at the 2004 Olympic Games. Of note, Allucci won her Olympic gold at the age of 34, demonstrating a relentless persistence and years of dominating performances.
In recognition of her personal character and athletic performances, Allucci was given one of the most distinguished honours for any Olympian – she was asked to carry her nation’s flag in the closing ceremony of the Athens Games.
The trophy cabinet already had civil honours before her retirement. Allucci was awarded the Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2003, at the initiative of the President of the Republic, and Commander of the Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic, also at the initiative of the President of the Republic. She was also presented with the Gold Collar with Sporting Merit in 1998.
Lilli is married to Giovanni Tarantino and they have two children, Francesco (17) and Lara (15).
As a player she was extraordinary and as a leader she was exceptional.