Valentina Vezzali
Valentina Vezzali | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 19 March 2013 – 22 March 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 February 1974 |
| Party | Civic Choice (2013–17) Independent (2017–22) Forza Italia (2022–present) |
| Spouse | Domenico Giugliano |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Agent of the Polizia di Stato |
| Fencing career | |
| Full name | Maria Valentina Vezzali |
Nickname | Cobra |
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Weight | 53 kg (117 lb) |
| Sport | Fencing |
| Country | Italy |
| Weapon | Foil |
| Hand | right-handed |
| National coach | Andrea Cipressa |
| Club | G.S. Fiamme Oro |
| FIE ranking | rankings |
Medal record | |
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Maria Valentina Vezzali (Italian pronunciation: [valenˈtiːna vetˈtsaːli]; born 14 February 1974) is an Italian politician and retired Olympic and World Champion foil fencer. As a fencer, Vezzali won six Olympic gold medals and was a 16-time World Champion in foil. She is one of only five athletes in the history of the Summer Olympic Games to have won five medals in the same individual event. She is widely considered to be the greatest women’s foilist in fencing history.
In 2013, Vezzali became a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies as part of the Civic Choice party. In 2021, she became Italy's cabinet undersecretary in charge of sports.