He is known as the "caiman" of Italian Water Polo for his skill in dominating the water. Olympic champion in Rome in 1960, he won 16 championships: 15 with Pro Recco (from 1966 to 1974 he was also the coach) and one with Bogliasco. He also won a Champions Cup. He retired in 1982, at the age of 44. During his managerial career, he also held the positions of sporting director, vice president, and president of Pro Recco. In 2005, on the occasion of the XX Winter Olympic Games, he carried the Olympic flame through the center of Genoa. In 2015, he was inducted into the CONI Walk of Fame.