Rossella Fiamingo: Italian Fencer World Champion and Olympic silver medalist talks about her Success Story

Rossella Fiamingo is an Italian left-handed épée fencer and two-time individual world champion. A three-time Olympian, Fiamingo is a 2021 team Olympic bronze medalist and 2016 individual Olympic silver medalist.

Fiamingo did ballet and rhythmic gymnastics as a child. She took up fencing when she was seven at the instigation of her father, who already drove her brother to a nearby fencing school, AS Methodos Catania. She was taught by Gianni Sperlinga, who remains her personal coach as of today. In 2004, she was selected into the cadet Italian national team. She won the 2007 Cadet European Championships in Novi Sad, then the 2008 Cadet World Championships at home, in Acireale. She earned both the individual and team gold medals in 2009 and 2010 at the Junior European Championships, then she won the 2010 European U23 Championships in Gdańsk.

Fiamingo joined the national senior team in the 2010–11 season. At the 2011 European Championships in Sheffield she reached the quarter-finals, where she was defeated by teammate Nathalie Moellhausen. The next season she climbed her first World Cup podium with a bronze medal in Doha, followed by a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.

In the 2013–14 season Fiamingo won the World Championships, defeating along the way Olympic champions Yana Shemyakina and Britta Heidemann. Rossella Fiamingo (ITA) won again women’s individual épée at the 2015 world championships in Moscow to become the first woman to win back-to-back world titles in this event since Laura Flessel-Colovic (FRA) in 1998–1999. Fiamingo joined Flessel-Colovic (1998 and 1999) and Mariann Horvath (HUN, 1991 and 1992) as the only women with multiple world titles in this event. This was the third gold medal for Italy in this event, equaling France and Hungary on most wins. She in the 2014–2015 season also won the world cup. Fiamingo has a degree in pianoforte and studies nutrition at the University of Catania.

She won the silver medal in the women’s épée event at the 2022 European Fencing Championships held in Antalya, Turkey. She won one of the bronze medals in the women’s épée event at the 2022 World Fencing Championships held in Cairo, Egypt.

Medal record and Achievements

Olympic Games:

World Championship:

European Championship:

Grand Prix:

World Cup:

Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with, Rossella Fiamingo, an exceptionally talented Italian Fencer, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.

Namita Nayyar:

You were born in Catania, Italy. You began fencing at the age of seven at the instigation of your father, you were taught by Gianni Sperlinga, who remains your personal coach as of today. You won the 2007 Cadet European Championships in Novi Sad. This later propelled your career to the height where in 2016 you won individual Olympic silver medal in the event épée fencing. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance.

Rossella Fiamingo:

The career of an athlete is long, steep, sometimes troubled but also full of satisfaction. Since I was a child I have thought in small steps. To dream big I keeping my feet on the ground and started with small goals. My first goal was a provincial competition and after 14 years of training I faced my first Olympics in London. I was the youngest Italian fencer and I was already very ambitious! In London I made a dream come true, taking part in the first Olympics.

Namita Nayyar:

You did ballet and rhythmic gymnastics as a child, you also have a degree in pianoforte, Music from Vincenzo Bellini Institute of Music, Catania, Italy. Now you are one of the best women fencers in the world. Tell us how these artistic training in dance and music helps in polishing your fencing skills.

Rossella Fiamingo:

Gymnastics gave me two very important things that I found from the first day of fencing:

Coordination and elasticity. Two important things for fencing that allowed me to start from the first steps without too many difficulties

The piano, on the other hand, was fundamental for many other things such as, the sense of time and the speed in seeing first what is about to happen.

In fact, the rhythm changes continuously and that’s a bit like what happens on the grid with your feet. In a certain sense I play on the grid with my feet!

As you play, before moving on to the next measure, take a look to prepare your hands and what comes next.

In fencing, advance reading is equally important.The fencer who reads the opponent’s movements in advance is stronger.

Namita Nayyar:

You have selected a sport which apart from individual sport is also a team sport and requires a lot of cohesiveness and family feeling between the players of the side to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?

Rossella Fiamingo:

Yes, fencing is a complex sport.One day you are alone against everyone, and the next day you’re on a team against the rest of the world.

Team races are fun if everything works. In a team it is important to give and feel the trust of your teammates.None of us have to point fingers, it takes unity to make the group work.

My strong point is listening, supporting and making all the girls feel like they are a fundamental part of the team, each with their own qualities.

Namita Nayyar:

What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you would like to share?

Rossella Fiamingo:

I train from Monday to Saturday for a total of 8 sessions.

I do three types of training: athletic preparation, fencing lesson and fencing match. I prefer to separate athletic training from the rest. When I prepare physically I prefer free body workouts or with very light weights.

The movements I do most are the counter movements with various changes in rhythm, which are the movements I use on the piste to move.

Namita Nayyar:

You studies nutrition at the University of Catania. Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Rossella Fiamingo:

I follow a healthy and balanced diet. I do a real mess on weekends, otherwise I’m very careful to eat everything in the right quantities

I follow the Mediterranean diet that is well-balanced way of eating that prioritizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins (particularly from fish), and good fats from things like extra virgin olive oil and nuts.

Namita Nayyar:

Advice and motivational words to our inspiring and budding women fencing playing girls who all are your fans, what do they do for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of women fencing?

Rossella Fiamingo:

To be the best you need to arm yourself with patience, another important thing is consistency and believing in yourself even when things don’t go as you hoped. I used the brick method… one at a time… only at the end will you see the result… but from the looks of it I have already built something big!

Namita Nayyar:

How did you feel after you’re memorable winning the Gold medal in the Individual Women’s Épée event at the 2014 World Fencing Championships held in Kazan, Russia?

Rossella Fiamingo:

Excellent, it was the beginning of my best years! That result gave me the strength to feel the strongest of all for once and encouraged me to continue to be so.

Namita Nayyar:

You won Bronze medal in the Team Women’s Épée event at the 2011 World Fencing Championships held in Catania, Italy and later in 2016 you won individual Olympic silver medal in the event épée fencing. How did these successes act as a catalyst in your meteoric rise as a fencing sportsperson?

Rossella Fiamingo:

When you’re inside you don’t even pay much attention to what you’re doing, you live it and you don’t get tired of winning because winning helps you win. They are those moments where everything you do goes well and everything turns in your favor because you are incredibly in the flow and you let yourself be carried away. They were golden moments very close to each other and even today I am surprised at how I did it.

Namita Nayyar:

It is known that you had fought back in matches with sheer determination against all odds and returned to win. How you were able to overcome a mental block when your team was trailing and then reverse the final outcome of the match in your favor and what advice you can give to a fellow sportsperson in a similar situation?

Rossella Fiamingo:

I believe that inner strength sometimes makes the difference, in moments when everything seems difficult, almost impossible, if you remain clear and aware of what is happening, you can do it.

If you panic you probably lose.

My winning tactic is: deep breath and repeat to myself this is a game. I started for fun and I continue to play. Always put yourself out there even in difficulties.

Namita Nayyar:

You won two gold, one silver and four bronze medals in World Fencing Championships from 2011 to 2022 and has won numerous other awards. How do you remain so humble and lovable? Success has not made you the least arrogant and proud which is mostly with all the celebrity stars.

Rossella Fiamingo:

Fencing for me is pure passion, I like training, I like the preparation process more than the victory itself. Winning doesn’t go to my head, it just makes me more eager to do it again. Because the feeling of preparing and succeeding in something is so beautiful!

Namita Nayyar:

In 2016 you received the Golden Collar for Sporting Merit [Collared’oro al meritosportivo], the highest award given by the Italian Olympic Committee. How do such awards go a long way in motivating you to reach greater heights in the field of sports you specialize i.e. of fencing?

Rossella Fiamingo:

It was a great emotion, I was very proud of myself… I remember that day as if it were yesterday!

Namita Nayyar:

Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.

Rossella Fiamingo:

I have been a Nike woman since before being testimonial!

I love very fashionable and comfortable bras, crop top and cycling trousers outfits. And my favorite shoes are the dunks, I think I have them in all colors.

Namita Nayyar:

Five travel destinations on your wish list.

Rossella Fiamingo:

Giappone, PolinesiaFrancese, Vietnam, Australia, Papua guinea.

Namita Nayyar:

Quote you live by “I am one of those people who, after having won something, wants to win something else immediately. I am never satisfied. I always want to give my best and I never tire of competing.” Elaborate.

Rossella Fiamingo:

I am a very stubborn person, I take what I want and I don’t get tired of taking it back!

Namita Nayyar:

What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Rossella Fiamingo:

I advise Women Fitness women to have confidence in yourselves, each of you has something special! Be aware of your skills and work hard to improve them!

Namita Nayyar:

Message for your social media followers.

Rossella Fiamingo:

EVERYTHING COMES TO THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO WAIT.. BUT IN THE MEANWHILE, WORK HARD!

Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.