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PIZZO Paolo
NOC Italy   
GenderMen
Born 04 Apr 1983 in Catania, ITA
Human Interest
General Interest
Famous relatives His wife Lavinia Bonessio has represented Italy in modern pentathlon, and won bronze in relay at the 2014 World Championships in Warsaw, Poland. She announced her retirement from the sport in 2016. (fipm.it, 17 Dec 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 08 Jul 2015; pianetascherma.com, 12 Oct 2014)
Further Personal Information
Family Wife Lavinia Bonessio, daughters Elena [2018] and Nicole [2020]
General Interest
Hero / Idol Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (sportfair.it, 23 Jul 2017)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs He always carries seven weapons for a competition, rather than the more usual number of three or four. (ilsupporter.it, 12 Nov 2018)
Ambitions To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (lasicilia.it, 18 Mar 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team CS Aeronautica Militare: Italy
General Interest
Hobbies Listening to music, scuba diving, volleyball, tennis. (Facebook page, 12 May 2019)
Sport Specific Information
Handedness Right
Further Personal Information
Occupation Armed Forces Athlete
Residence Rome, ITA
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? He began fencing at age seven.
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "Fight for what you believe in and never give up." (tiburno.tv, 18 Mar 2015)
Other information RETIREMENT AND COMEBACK
In May 2019 he announced his decision to leave the Italian national team, putting aside his goal of participating at the 2020 Olympic Games, to compete solely at national level tournaments in Italy and spend more time at home with his wife and daughter. Following the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he decided to return to the national fencing team and returned to action at the 2021 World Cup event in Kazan, Russian Federation. "I still want to throw myself into the fray, I have nothing to lose. I have the utmost respect for my teammates in the national team, but I feel I can continue to give my best. I am very happy to be back on the platform." (lasicilia.it, 18 Mar 2021; catania.meridionews.it, 30 Aug 2020)

COACH
He has worked as a physical and mental coach with young international athletes from a number of sports in Italy. "I still feel like an athlete, but I have begun to gain experience both as a coach for young talents and as a mental coach. I had the good fortune to meet exceptional people and coaches throughout my career. The ability to listen to the right advice has always been of great importance. Treasuring it without passing on this wealth of knowledge to future generations would be a mistake. Now I can pass on my experience to young people. I started with [fencing at] the 2020 European U20 Championships in Rome [Italy], and then continued with the athletes of the national swimming team. I spent a month with them." (catania.meridionews.it, 30 Aug 2020)

ILLNESS
At age 13 he had a tumour removed from his brain. He has written a book about his experiences called 'The Winning Thrust: How I Beat Cancer and Realised My Dream'. He has also served as an ambassador for the Italian Association of Cancer Research [AIRC]. "I have been a fortunate guy. I think that the mental aspect has been fundamental. I learnt that I needed to be strong, to never surrender. They seem common sentences, but they are true. I suffer when I remember those days. Now I teach people to never surrender." (corriere.it, 26 Jan 2018; ccaniene.com, 07 Jun 2016; lanotiziah24.com, 06 May 2015)
Injuries In 2017 he sustained an injury to his right elbow, which required him to undergo surgery and kept him out of action for seven months. He returned to competition in June 2018 at the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona, Spain. (Facebook page, 21 Jun 2018; liberta.it, 22 May 2018; pianetascherma.com, 25 Mar 2018)

He underwent an operation on his hand in November 2012. (cattolicanews.it, 03 May 2013)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? His father introduced him to the sport. "I used to play volleyball and football. My father took me to the gym one day to show me fencing and I realised that it was the sport for me."
Further Personal Information
Languages English, Italian
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Claiming gold in individual epee at the 2011 World Championships in Catania, Italy, and winning silver in team epee at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Instagram profile, 07 Jul 2017)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2016 2 Team Epee Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2012 Quarterfinal Individual Epee London, England
World Championships
2018 Final 5-6 Team Epee Wuxi, China
2017 1 Individual Epee Leipzig, Germany
2017 5 Team Epee Leipzig, Germany
2013 Quarterfinal Team Epee Budapest, Hungary
2011 1 Individual Epee Catania, Italy
2011 5 Team Epee Catania, Italy
European Championships
2017 2 Individual Epee Tbilisi, Georgia
2017 Final 7-8 Team Epee Tbilisi, Georgia
2014 2 Individual Epee Strasbourg, France
2013 5 Team Epee Zagreb, Croatia
2012 5 Individual Epee Legnano, Italy
2010 5 Team Epee Leipzig, Germany