Doria, René

He made two failed attempts in 1927 and 1929. There was a third attempt on 10th September 1929 – some papers say he set off in good weather at midnight and other papers say the start was abandoned at midnight because of high winds before he got in the water.

René Italo Ricolfi-Doria (30 April 1901 – 4 February 1970) was a Swiss swimmer. He competed in the 400M and 1500M freestyle swimming and the water polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He was married to Swiss businesswoman Iris Benvenuti with whom he had five children including Marina, Princess of Naples.

René Doria was owner of a Geneva biscuit-making firm, Les Biscuiteries DORIA à Genève, (now part of the Swiss bakery chain Pouly)

In 1934 Doria was founder of the famous Coupe de Noel, or Christmas Cup swimming race, which has been held annually in Lake Geneva ever since

His daughter, a world champion water skier, born 1935, became Princess Marina of Naples when in 1971 she married fellow water-skier Emanuele, Prince of Naples, the son of the last king and queen of Italy, Umberto II and Marie José

Swims by Doria, René

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