Margherita Granbassi

Margherita Granbassi (born 1 September 1979) is an Italian foil fencer. She is known for her great skills and strong performances in big competitions.

In 2006, Granbassi won the gold medal at the foil 2006 World Fencing Championships. She beat her teammate Valentina Vezzali in the final match. She also helped her team win a silver medal, with teammates Vezzali, Elisa Di Francisca, and Giovanna Trillini.

Granbassi did well at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. On August 11, she won a bronze medal. Her success has made her a proud representative of Italian fencing.

Early life

Margherita Granbassi was born on 1 September 1979 in Trieste, Italy. Her family were Istrian Italian exiles from Pisino. Her grandfather moved to Trieste to study and stayed there. Granbassi has said that her family always felt connected to their Istrian Italian roots.

Career

Margherita Granbassi started fencing because her brothers fenced too. Her first teacher was Silvia Strukel. She began in Trieste and trained in Udine for 11 years. Her mother drove her there every day, and Margherita listened to school lessons on a cassette.

In 1991, she won her first Italian title. In 1996, she won gold medals at the Italian Under-17 and Under-20 championships. She kept winning titles, including the World Under-20 Championship in 1998 and 1999.

Margherita joined the Italian national team and went to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She won medals in European and World Fencing Championships. In 2006, she won gold at the 2006 World Fencing Championships in the individual foil event. She also won two bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, one in individual foil and one in team foil.

Personal life

Margherita Granbassi has a daughter with her former partner Jacques Petrillo. She identifies as Roman Catholic.