Valentina Vezzali

Sport: Fencing

Nation: Italy

DOB: February 14, 1974

Career Highlights: Vezzali is the first fencer to win individual foil gold medals at three consecutive Summer Games, and has seven Olympic medals total - one shy of countrywoman and training partner Giovanna Trillini's record count for female fencers. Selected in June to carry the Italian flag during the opening ceremony in London, Vezzali has won 13 golds in senior world championship competition, six of them in individual events. She has been just as successful in the European championships, capturing 10 golds among her 16 medals. Vezzali hails from Jesi, a town near Rome that has sent fencers to every Olympics since 1976. Married to Italian soccer player Domenico Giuliano, she wrote her autobiography in 2006 titled A Volto Scoperto, which translates in English to "With Uncovered Face."

Olympic History: 2008,2004,2000,1996