Alice Volpi, known to those close to her as “Ali” or “Fox,” has been weaving her path through the world of fencing with a fierce determination shaped by dual heritages: an Italian father and a Brazilian mother. Born in April 1992, she first stepped onto the piste at the CUS Siena club in Italy, drawn in by the unique allure of the sport—fascinated, perhaps, by the uniforms, as she recalls. Under the guidance of her coach, the legendary Giovanna Trillini, Alice honed her skills, transitioning from a novice to an elite competitor, with a career punctuated by stunning victories and harsh lessons.

Her journey is interspersed with moments that reveal a complex relationship with her craft and identity. In 2016, Alice stood on the sidelines at the Rio Olympics, not competing, but supporting her boyfriend Daniele Garozzo. The regret lingers but is softened by the pride she felt watching him succeed. Years later, she emerged victorious herself, clinching individual world titles in both 2018 and 2023. The ambivalence of her past failures is countered, it seems, by the resolve she found in those who believed in her, notably fitness coach Annalisa Coltorti, whose encouragement made a substantial difference in her training.

But there’s more to Alice than the duel of blades. She juggles her aspirations with the mundane, from binge-watching TV series to supporting Daniele’s career while managing her own—an intricate dance that often pulls their conversations back to fencing despite their best efforts to keep it out of the home. And yet, she reflects on the sport as transformative; on the piste, she becomes a different person, channeling the duality of calm and fierceness.

Amidst her accolades—two-time European champion, team Olympic bronze medalist, and Tuscan Athlete of the Year—she continues to aim for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. The dualities in her life—of heritage, ambition, love—paint a portrait of a determined athlete navigating the complexities of competition in a sport that runs in her veins. Alice Volpi embodies the broader human experience: filled with passion, setbacks, and a relentless drive to pursue one’s dreams, whether through the lens of an Italian fencer or a young girl mesmerized by the world of swords and masks.