Paolo Pizzo

Paolo Pizzo, a two-time individual world champion in épée fencing and an Olympic medalist, solidified his status in the sport by earning a gold medal in individual épée at the 2011 World Fencing Championships held in Catania, Italy. A member of the esteemed CS Aeronautica Militare club, Pizzo had already demonstrated significant prowess, securing multiple silver and bronze medals in World Cup and Grand Prix events between 2009 and 2015. His rising career led him to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games, marking his debut on the world’s most prominent sporting stage. Pizzo continued his remarkable trajectory, earning a silver medal in the team men’s épée event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The following year, he achieved another monumental victory, securing his second individual gold medal at the 2017 World Fencing Championships in Leipzig, Germany, establishing him as a rare two-time individual world champion. During this period of peak performance, he also garnered multiple silver medals at the European Championships, including individual medals in 2014 and 2017, and a team silver in 2016. After sustaining a right elbow injury in 2017 and undergoing surgery, Pizzo made a successful return to competition at the Mediterranean Games in 2018. Beyond his competitive achievements, Pizzo authored the inspiring book, ‘The Winning Thrust: How I Beat Cancer and Realised My Dream,’ sharing his journey and serving as an ambassador for the Italian Association of Cancer Research (AIRC).

Further demonstrating his commitment to sport governance, he has been officially candidated for a position on the executive board of the Italian Fencing Federation.