Born in Gzira on the 24th September 1947, Rizzo was educated at St. Monica Primary School and the Nautical School from where he qualified as a radio officer. Grandson of the great Turu Rizzo, he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, taking up swimming and waterpolo as his pastimes.
Many saw in Rizzo a spitting image of his grandfather, but it was promoter Billy Apap who, on Rizzo’s return to Malta from seven years in Melbourne, Australia, urged him to have a go at his grandfather’s water-threading record of 68 hours. He started training in earnest and on the 25 September 1980, he broke the record by staying in the open sea for 72 hours, thus becoming the first Maltese to have his name listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. This record he further bettered twice: in 1983 (108 hours) and in 1984 (132 hours). In 1983 he also registered another world feat by staying in the water (open sea) for 36 hours with his hands and feet bound together. He was voted Sportsman of the Year in 1980.
Rizzo is also a leading auctioneer and antiques dealer, a profession which runs in the family. His father Effie and grandfather Turn have both practised the same occupation. His involvement in local councils was marked by his election in 1994 and subsequently he was elected Mayor of his hometown, Gzira. Rizzo is also very active in voluntary work with charitable institutions.
In 2001 the President of Malta presented Rizzo with the award Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika (MQR).
Rizzo is married to Mary Borg and they have four children and three grandchildren.