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| VEZZALI Valentina |
| NOC |
Italy
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born |
14 Feb 1974
in Jesi, ITA
|
| Height | 1.64 m |
| Weight | 53 kg |
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Further Personal Information |
| Marital status |
Married |
| Family |
Husband Domenico Giugliano, sons Pietro and Andrea |
| Residence |
Jesi, ITA |
| Occupation |
Athlete, Government Official, Police Officer |
| Languages |
English, Italian |
| Higher education |
Accounting - Technical Institute of Commerce: Jesi, ITA |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began fencing at age six at Club Scherma Jesi in Italy. |
| Why this sport? |
Her sister was involved in the sport and Vezzali wanted to emulate her. |
| Club / Team |
GS Fiamme Oro: Rome, ITA |
| Name of coach |
Andrea Cipressa [national], ITA; Giulio Tomassini [personal], ITA |
| Handedness |
Right |
International Debut |
| Year |
1993 |
| Competing for |
Italy |
| Tournament |
World Championships |
| Location |
Essen |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Cobra, Vale, Valeoro (rio2016.com, 19 May 2015; valentinavezzali.com, 19 Jun 2013) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, because it was her first as a mother. (cnn.com, 22 Apr 2015) |
| Most influential person in career |
Her first coach Ezio Triccoli. (cnn.com, 22 Apr 2015) |
| Hero / Idol |
German fencer Anja Fichtel. (schermaonline.com, 27 Sep 2007) |
| Injuries |
In November 2011 she was hospitalised with head and abdominal injuries after being involved in a car crash in Perugia, Italy. (telegraph.co.uk, 22 Jul 2012)
She underwent surgery on her left knee in 2006 to repair ligament damage. (valentinavezzali.com, 28 Sep 2011) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"It's vital to manage to find the right second and the way in which to put the action into place. That means combining time, distance and speed." (cnn.com, 22 Apr 2015) |
| Awards and honours |
She was Italy's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (poliziadistato.it, 25 Jul 2012)
She was named a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2000 and a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2008. (quirinale.it, 10 Apr 2011) |
| Famous relatives |
Her husband Domenico Giugliano played professional football for several clubs in the Italian league. (cnn.com, 22 Apr 2015) |
| Other information |
RETIREMENT
She retired from fencing following at the 2016 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She had made the decision after it was confirmed she would miss out on qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games the previous year. "I did a lot as an athlete. Sport is a great training ground for life. Everyone is talking about the social value of sport and I will work for this. I will be present in my world in a different way." (rio2016.com, 28 Apr 2016; gazzetta.it, 28 Nov 2015)
PARLIAMENT POSITION
In January 2013 she accepted an offer from outgoing Italian premier Mario Monti to be considered for a seat in parliament. In February 2013 her seat was confirmed. "What drove me to take on this new challenge is the will to give a voice to sport. I think Italy could do a lot for sport and that sport could give so much back in return. In politics, sport is regarded as a minor topic and I really believe we could do so much, so I am working for this to happen." (cnn.com, 22 Apr 2015; insidethegames.biz, 13 Aug 2013; ansa.it, 08 Jan 2013)
MILESTONE
She equalled the Italian record of six summer Olympic gold medals with victory in team foil at the 2012 Games in London. She also became one of only four athletes to have won a medal in the same event at five different Olympic Games. She won gold in individual foil in 2000, 2004 and 2008, silver in 1996 and bronze in 2012. (ecodellosport.it 20 Aug 2012)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2009 she appeared on the Italian version of the reality television show 'Dancing With the Stars'. In 2006 she released her autobiography called 'A Viso Scoperto' [With Uncovered Face]. (valentinavezzali.com, 28 Sep 2011; mondoreality.com, 08 Mar 2009) |
| Olympic Games |
| 2012 |
1 |
Team Foil |
London, England |
| 2012 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
London, England |
| 2008 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Beijing, China |
| 2008 |
3 |
Team Foil |
Beijing, China |
| 2004 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Athens, Greece |
| 2000 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Sydney, Australia |
| 2000 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Sydney, Australia |
| 1996 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Atlanta, GA, United States |
| 1996 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Atlanta, GA, United States |
| World Championships |
| 2015 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Moscow, Russia |
| 2014 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Kazan, Russia |
| 2014 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
Kazan, Russia |
| 2013 |
8 |
Individual Foil |
Budapest, Hungary |
| 2011 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Catania, Italy |
| 2011 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Catania, Italy |
| 2010 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Paris, France |
| 2010 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
Paris, France |
| 2009 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Antalya, Turkey |
| 2009 |
5 |
Individual Foil |
Antalya, Turkey |
| 2007 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
St. Petersburg, Russia |
| 2007 |
5 |
Team Foil |
St. Petersburg, Russia |
| 2006 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Turin, Italy |
| 2006 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Turin, Italy |
| 2005 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Leipzig, Germany |
| 2005 |
7 |
Team Foil |
Leipzig, Germany |
| 2004 |
1 |
Team Foil |
New York, NY, United States |
| 2003 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Havana, Cuba |
| 2003 |
4 |
Team Foil |
Havana, Cuba |
| 2002 |
5 |
Individual Foil |
Lisbon, Portugal |
| 2002 |
7 |
Team Foil |
Lisbon, Portugal |
| 2001 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Nīmes, France |
| 2001 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Nīmes, France |
| 1999 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Seoul, South Korea |
| 1999 |
5 |
Team Foil |
Seoul, South Korea |
| 1998 |
1 |
Team Foil |
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland |
| 1998 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland |
| 1997 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Cape Town, South Africa |
| 1995 |
1 |
Team Foil |
The Hague, Netherlands |
| 1995 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
The Hague, Netherlands |
| 1994 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Athens, Greece |
| 1994 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Athens, Greece |
| European Championships |
| 2015 |
5 |
Individual Foil |
Montreux, Switzerland |
| 2014 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
Strasbourg, France |
| 2012 |
7 |
Individual Foil |
Legnano, Italy |
| 2011 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Sheffield, England |
| 2010 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Leipzig, Germany |
| 2010 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Leipzig, Germany |
| 2009 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| 2008 |
5 |
Team Foil |
Kiev, Ukraine |
| 2007 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Ghent, Belgium |
| 2003 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Bourges, France |
| 2003 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Bourges, France |
| 2001 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Koblenz, Germany |
| 2001 |
1 |
Team Foil |
Koblenz, Germany |
| 1999 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Bolzano, Italy |
| 1998 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
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