Italy has produced some of the best sportspeople in the world and athletes competing at the highest levels in every field of sport. Some of these have represented the country at major events, such as the Olympic Games. Here are some of the top Italian Olympic athletes.
1. Federica Pellegrini
Pellegrini comes from MIrano in Venice and is one of the most successful female swimmers of all time. In 2008, she won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and she also holds the world record for the women’s 200-meter freestyle. She is the first Italian woman to become an Olympic champion in the field of swimming and was the first woman in the world to break the four-minute barrier in the 400-meter freestyle.
2. Valentina Vezzali
Vezzali is an Italian fencer and politician. She has won six gold medals in the Olympics, competing in both the Women’s Foil Individual and the Women’s Foil Team competitions. She is from Jesi in the province of Ancona.
3. Arianna Follis
Arianna Follis is a Winter Olympian who began competing in 1995. Her specialty is cross-country skiing and she won a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin in the 4 x 5 kilometers event. She has also won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the FIS Nordic World Championships.She retired in 2011.
4. Manuela Mölgg
She is a slalom and grand slalom alpine skier who has competed in two Olympics, four World Championships and has finished in a podium position at ten World Cups. Her brother, Manfred Mölgg, is also an Italian racer.
5. Carolina Kostner
Kostner is one of the most successful Italian figure skaters ever. She won the bronze medal at the 2014 Olympics, she is the 2012 World Champion, the 2011 Grand Prix Final Champion, and a five-time European Champion.
Main Image: Pexels
