Valentina Vezzali was born on 14th February 1974 in Jesi. She is an Italian fencer and politician. As fencer she has won six Olympic gold medals in foil competitions. Together with the German shooter Ralf Schumann, the Slovak slalom canoeist Michal Martikán and the Japanese female judoka Ryoko Tani, is one of only four athletes in the history of the Summer Olympic Games to have won five medals in the same individual event. On 2013 she became a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies as part of the Scelta Civica party.
She is the most successful Italian athlete in the history with holding first position in the world ranking of the women’s foil for eleven years. Vezzali is the first fencer in Olympic history to win three Individual Foil gold medals at three consecutive Olympics – Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
She also won fourteen gold medals at the World Fencing Championships, six in individual competitions (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011) and another eight in team competitions (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013), plus four silver medals (two individual, 1994 and 2006, and two with Italian team, in the same years) and three bronze medals (individual, 1995, 1998 and 2012).
In European championships, she won nine gold medals (individual: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2010; team: 1999, 2001, 2009, 2010), three silver medals (individual: 2003, 2007; team: 2007), two bronze medals (individual: 1993; team: 1998).
Maria Valentina Vezzali Achievements |
||
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 6 | (3 individual) |
| Silver | 1 | (1 individual) |
| Bronze | 2 | (1 individual) |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 14 | (6 individual) |
| Silver | 5 | (2 individual) |
| Bronze | 3 | (3 individual) |
| European Championships | ||
| Gold | 11 | (5 individual) |
| Silver | 4 | (3 individual) |
| Bronze | 2 | (1 individual) |
| Universiade | ||
| Gold | 5 | (4 individual) |
| Silver | 3 | (0 individual) |
| Bronze | 0 | (0 individual) |
| Mediterranean Games | ||
| Gold | 2 | (2 individual) |
| Silver | 0 | (0 individual) |
| Bronze | 0 | (0 individual) |
She published two autobiographies: A viso scoperto (“With uncovered face”), written with Caterina Luchetti in 2006, and Io, Valentina Vezzali, written with Betta Carbone in 2012.
She married Italian soccer player Domenico Giugliano and has two sons: Pietro, born on 9 June 2005, and Andrea, born on 16 May 2013. On 25 February 2013 she became a member of the Italian Parliament as part of the Scelta Civica party led by Mario Monti.
Since 2010 she is the Testimonial for AISM (Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla), an Italian non-profit organization battling Multiple Sclerosis.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
Maria ValentinaVezzali, today’s best foil fencer in the World in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a sport which apart from individual sport is also a team sport and requires a lot of cohesiveness and family feeling between the players of the side to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
Fencing is an individual sport, but often happens to find on piste Italian colleagues from the same city and at the same club. In those moments, of course we have to fight each one for himself, but when we are in team, each of us is able to put aside personal competition and compete for our beloved Italian flag.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
My physical effort is certainly high. I do physical training every morning at dawn, then running, swimming, and in the evening I train with foil.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
I do not do special diets, I try to eat healthy foods, plenty of vegetables, fruits and proteins. During my career I gave birth two children, the last; seven months ago, and when I was expecting Peter and Andrew I did not care about what I ate; only good foods that could do well to children. I allowed even sweets to myself!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to our inspiring and budding women fencing playing girls who all are your fans, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field women fencing ?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
Fortunately fencing is a sport that has no discrimination. A lot of women practice it and they are also very appreciate, but unfortunately this does not happen in all sports. It be necessary work hard to allow that women athletes enjoy the same rights as men who practice the same sport. Sport is passion, regardless of discipline, it requests a lot of diligence, discipline an sacrifice. I love fencing, it’s my world and I ‘d really like if it would be more practiced and emphasize by media. The world of sport is not just football, and I think we can learn a lot from fencing: respect for competitors, patience, speed, strategy . All things needed in life.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel after your memorable wins of three individual Foil Gold medals at three consecutive Olympics – Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 ?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
I remember all of them with great pleasure, you can not forget the excitement and happiness in keeping the flag flying. However, the medal to which I am particularly attached is the bronze one won at the London Olympic Games 2012. I think I made a little miracle and people do not end up even today to thank me for what I did. I was able to excite my country and that makes me proud of it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
It is known that you had fought back in matches with sheer determination against all odds and returned to win. How you were able to overcome mental block when your team is trailing and then reversed the final outcome of the match in your favor and what advice you can give to fellow sports person in a similar situation?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
As I said in the previous answer, it is determination and the will to win what causes a decision to be taken, even if you’re tired, you never have to give up until the last point, the competitor has not yet won, and that is the competition.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have won three-time individual Foil Gold medals at three consecutive Olympics, won fourteen gold medals at the World Fencing Championships and has won numerous other awards. How you remain so humble and lovable? Success has not made you the least arrogant and proud which is mostly with all the celebrity stars?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
I believe that in sport we should be how we are in every day life. My family taught me from the early age that you will show your strength on the field and what you do is done to feel good with yourself . Get a big head or be arrogant is not my lifestyle, and it never will be mine.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2005 just after four months of birth of your elder son Peter, you went on to win fourth World Title. What advice you wish to give based on your experience for women to recover their fitness post pregnancy ?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
Some psychological studies considered necessary for a woman who has given birth, that she must do what is more pleasing; this because: if the mom is well, the child is well too. After the birth of Peter, I rested forty days and then I started with the athletic training on the platform, always under strict medical supervision. This gave me the opportunity to participate in the Olympics 2005 and I won it. I have proved that a woman can get what she wants, because a woman-mom is not a damaged woman.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2006 you were operated on your left knee due to cruciate ligament rupture. What was your fitness regime for recovery after such a nightmare event in the life of a sportsperson ?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
I did not follow special diets, I do not love them very much. Fortunately I have a body that recovers quickly and it was enough to do some physical therapy for several months to recover my form.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are world leading fencer, social worker, politician, model, writer and motivational speaker. How you are able to manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional, multi-faceted lifestyle?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
Women’s life is very challenging: home, family, children, husband, school, children’s sporting activities, etc… I do not think that my life doesn’t stand out from that of others working women who have to put together, work, family and passions. I organize my days and almost always I succeed to do it all. It happens, however, that I can not finish what I set out to do, but with so many commitments happens. In first place there are my children and my family, that is my lifeblood and help me to carry out my tasks.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Valentina Vezzali:
I would like to say to women, that they have to do a lot of sport. A sound mind in a healthy body. There is no age limit for sports and to follow a healthy diet. Follow Womenfitness.net advice’s, an innovative and content rich portal for a healthy lifestyle.
Women Fitness Team thanks Maria ValentinaVezzali for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her, we shall also like to thank Rossana Del Regno whose efforts made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.