at the 1974 european championships, mennea claimed the 200 m gold in front of his home crowd in rome, while also placing second behind borzov in the 100 m and the 4 × 100 m. after some poor performances in the 1976 olympic season, mennea decided to skip the olympics, but when the italian public protested mennea went to montreal. he finished fourth in the 200 m and sixth in the 4 × 100 m relay.