Maria Valentina Vezzali (born February 14, 1974 in Jesi) is an Italian fencer who has won four Olympic gold medals
in foil competitions.
She
also won ten gold medals at the World Fencing Championships, five in
indivudual competitions (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007) and other five
in team competitions (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004), plus four silver
medals (two individual, 1994 and 2006, and two with Italian team, in
the same years) and two bronze medals (individual, 1995 and 1998).
In
European championships, she won five gold medals (individual: 1998,
1999, 2001; team: 1999, 2001), three silver medals (individual: 2003,
2007; team: 2007), two bronze medals (individual: 1993; team: 1998).
In 2006 she published her autobiography, A volto scoperto ("With uncovered face"), written with Caterina Luchetti.
She married Italian soccer player Domenico Giugliano and has a son.