Alex Schwazer
An Italian race walker who soared to Olympic gold in 2008, only to have his career defined by a dramatic doping scandal and a controversial comeback.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Italian race walker·Birthday: December 26·Millennials
Biography
Alex Schwazer’s athletic story is a stark drama of triumph, disgrace, and redemption. From the mountains of South Tyrol, he emerged as a powerhouse in the grueling 50-kilometer race walk. His moment of glory came at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, where he won gold for Italy in dominant fashion, finishing over a minute ahead of his nearest rival. He seemed poised for a lasting legacy. Then, in 2012, just before the London Games, he tested positive for the blood-booster EPO. He confessed immediately, stating he wanted to 'end the nightmare,' and received a multi-year ban. His story took another twist when he returned to competition, only to be implicated in a second doping case in 2016 involving testosterone, which he fiercely contested. After a lengthy legal battle, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately upheld an eight-year ban in 2020, effectively ending his competitive career. Schwazer remains a polarizing figure, seen by some as a cheat and by others as a victim of a flawed system.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the 50-kilometer race walk at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Set a personal best and national record in the 50km walk at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, finishing fourth.
- Won the 2010 European Athletics Championships title in the 50km walk in Barcelona.
Did You Know?
He was a talented cross-country skier in his youth before focusing entirely on race walking.
His 2008 Olympic gold was Italy's first in race walking since 1980.
After his first doping ban, he worked in construction and as a personal trainer.
“I walked fifty kilometers in Beijing to stand on the highest step, and they took the medal from my hands.”
