The 2026 FIE World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong have marked another extraordinary chapter in the career of Giulia Rizzi and in the history of the Italian Women’s Épée National Team.
Giulia first delivered an outstanding individual performance, earning the World Silver Medal and confirming her place among the world’s finest épée athletes. Just days later, together with her teammates, she reached another historic milestone by winning the Team Gold Medal, bringing Italy back to the top of the world and becoming Women’s Épée Team World Champions.
Following the unforgettable Olympic Gold Medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this latest World Championship title further confirms the remarkable consistency, excellence, and competitive strength of the Italian Women’s Épée Team. Remaining at the highest level is often even more demanding than reaching it, and this team has once again demonstrated the mindset required to perform under the greatest pressure.
These achievements are far more than medals. They are the result of years of commitment, sacrifice, technical excellence, physical preparation, and the ability to consistently deliver when the stakes are highest.
Congratulations to Giulia Rizzi for these extraordinary performances, to Coach Roberto Cirillo, Head Coach Dario Chiadò, the entire technical staff, the Italian Fencing Federation, and every member of the Italian Women’s Épée Team for an exceptional achievement that makes the entire country proud.
Those who work alongside elite athletes every day know that a medal is not won at the moment of competition. It is built long before, through training, discipline, resilience, and mental preparation. Talent is essential, but what truly makes the difference is the ability to express that talent under pressure.
For several years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Giulia Rizzi as part of her mental performance journey through the Deep Inside – State of Mind® methodology. Like every great achievement in elite sport, this success belongs first and foremost to the athlete, the coaching staff, and the entire team. Contributing to this journey by helping develop the mental skills required to perform under pressure has been both a privilege and a profound source of professional satisfaction.
The achievements of the Italian Women’s Épée Team—from the Olympic Gold Medal at Paris 2024 to the World Championship title in Hong Kong—demonstrate that Peak Performance is never the result of a single competition. It is the outcome of a long-term process in which technical excellence, physical preparation, mental resilience, and team cohesion come together to consistently perform at the highest level.
Congratulations, World Champions.
Peak Performance • Mental Training • Human Performance • Elite Sport • Women’s Épée • World Champions • Olympic Champions • Deep Inside – State of Mind®
Alessandro Vergendo
Human Performance Researcher, Peak Performance Lab
CEO & Chairman, VEGA Consultancies LLC
Co-Founder, Deep Inside – State of Mind®
