1. Overview
Alberta Santuccio (born October 22, 1994) is an Italian right-handed épée fencer. A highly accomplished athlete, Santuccio has achieved significant success in international competitions, notably securing a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women's team épée event. She has also earned three silver medals at the World Fencing Championships, highlighting her consistent performance at the elite level of the sport.
2. Personal life
2.1. Birth and upbringing
Alberta Santuccio was born on October 22, 1994, in Catania, Italy. She developed an interest in fencing at a young age, beginning the sport when she was seven years old. Her inspiration came from observing her brother, Giorgio, who was already involved in fencing.
3. Career
Alberta Santuccio's fencing career spans successful junior and senior periods, marked by numerous international medals and significant achievements.
3.1. Early career
Santuccio's early fencing career saw her competing with the CS Acireale club. She quickly demonstrated her talent by winning a gold medal in the individual event at the European Cadet Championship. She also achieved success in various international under-17 circuits. Her promising performances led to her selection as the flag bearer for the Italian delegation at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. At these inaugural Youth Olympic Games, Santuccio earned two medals: a gold in the mixed team tournament and a silver in the girls' individual épée event, solidifying her status as a rising star in the sport. Santuccio stands 67 in (171 cm) tall.
3.2. Senior career
Santuccio has achieved remarkable success throughout her senior career, collecting multiple medals at the highest levels of international fencing, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, European Games, and various World Cup and Grand Prix events.
3.2.1. Olympic Games
Santuccio has been a key member of the Italian épée team at the Olympic Games. She represented Team Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she helped secure a bronze medal in the Women's Team Épée event. Her Olympic success continued at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where she played an instrumental role in winning the gold medal in the Women's Team Épée competition.
3.2.2. World Championships
Santuccio has consistently medaled at the World Fencing Championships. In 2022, at the World Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, she earned a silver medal in the Women's Team Épée event. Her strong performances continued into 2023 at the World Championships in Milan, Italy, where she remarkably secured two more silver medals: one in the individual Women's Épée event and another in the Women's Team Épée competition.
3.2.3. European Championships
Her achievements at the European Fencing Championships include several medals in both team and individual categories. In 2022, at the Championships held in Antalya, Turkey, Santuccio won a silver medal in the Team Épée event. She followed this with a bronze medal in the Team Épée at the 2023 European Championships in Kraków, Poland. Her most recent success at the European Championships came in 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, where she claimed a gold medal with the team and an individual bronze medal.
3.2.4. European Games
Santuccio has also medaled at the European Games. At the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, she contributed to the Italian team's bronze medal victory in the Women's Team Épée event, overcoming a ninth-place deficit to defeat Russia 40-36 in the decisive match. She repeated this success at the 2023 European Games in Kraków-Małopolska, Poland, where she again secured a bronze medal in the Women's Team Épée.
3.2.5. World Cup and Grand Prix
Santuccio has a strong record in the Fencing World Cup and Grand Prix circuits, achieving multiple podium finishes. She won individual bronze medals at the 2014 Barcelona World Cup in Spain, the 2017 Bogotá Grand Prix in Colombia, and the 2018 Tallinn World Cup in Estonia. A significant achievement was her gold medal win at the 2022 Budapest Grand Prix in Hungary in the individual Women's Épée. She also earned an individual silver medal at the 2022 Katowice World Cup in Poland.
4. Medal record summary
The following table summarizes Alberta Santuccio's major international medals.
4.1. Olympic medals
4.2. World Championship medals
4.3. European Championship medals
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Antalya, Turkey | Team Women's Épée | Silver |
| 2023 | Kraków, Poland | Team Women's Épée | Bronze |
| 2024 | Basel, Switzerland | Team Épée | Gold |
| 2024 | Basel, Switzerland | Individual Épée | Bronze |
4.4. European Games medals
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Baku, Azerbaijan | Team Women's Épée | Bronze |
| 2023 | Kraków-Małopolska, Poland | Team Women's Épée | Bronze |
4.5. Other major competition medals
| Year | Competition | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | World Cup | Barcelona, Spain | Individual Women's Épée | Bronze |
| 2017 | Grand Prix | Bogotá, Colombia | Individual Women's Épée | Bronze |
| 2018 | World Cup | Tallinn, Estonia | Individual Women's Épée | Bronze |
| 2022 | Grand Prix | Budapest, Hungary | Individual Women's Épée | Gold |
| 2022 | World Cup | Katowice, Poland | Individual Women's Épée | Silver |