Table of Contents
- 1 The former undersecretary responds to her former teammate’s request for peace: “Humanly you are not the best”
- 2 What happened
- 3 Di Francisca: “It’s a shame, she doesn’t know how to look beyond”
- 4 What do you think are the underlying reasons for the long-standing rivalry between you and Elisa Di Francisca in the fencing world?
The former undersecretary responds to her former teammate’s request for peace: “Humanly you are not the best”
November 19, 2024
Between Valentina Vezzali and Elisa Di Franciscathe argument continues. The last thrusts between the two former Italian fencers started from the stage of the Palazzo dei Congressi dell’Eur in Rome, where the 70 years of the Fiamme Orothe police sports group.
What happened
“Today I would like to take this opportunity to say something, I would like send a message of peace to my colleague Valentina Vezzali and I would like to ask her for peace, that’s it let’s make peace“, said Di Francisca. Vezzali responded immediately: “Look Elisa, from a sporting point of view I respect you because you were a great champion and a great talent, but as far as the human level is concerned, let’s say that you are not exactly the best. When you learn to respect people, maybe…”.
The sentence was promptly interrupted by the presenter Marco Lollobrigida, in general discomfort. The digs and sarcastic jokes have been going on for many years between the two athletes who are competing for the prize of best Italian fencers and who have never particularly loved each other since the days of what had been defined as “Vezzalicide” by Di Francisca in his autobiography, and by the World Cup of Paris 2011when the same Di Francisca had taken the gold from her friend-enemy Vezzali.
Di Francisca: “It’s a shame, she doesn’t know how to look beyond”
“And real shameI’m sorry that after all this time I can’t look past what happened. It could have been an occasion, in the name of the weapon we are part of. I am sorry“, says Di Francisca, commenting on the latest episode to LaPresse. “What I had to do I did, If he changes his mind I’m here but I hope it’s not too late,” adds the foil Olympian.
What do you think are the underlying reasons for the long-standing rivalry between you and Elisa Di Francisca in the fencing world?
Guest 1: Valentina Vezzali
1. In your opinion, what do you think sparked the argument between you and Elisa Di Francisca at the event celebrating 70 years of the Fiamme Oro police sports group?
2. How do you feel about Elisa’s comment that you are not the best when it comes to human contact? Do you think there is any truth to this statement?
3. Can you share your thoughts on the tension between the two of you, particularly during the Paris 2011 World Cup?
4. Do you see any way for the two of you to reconcile and move forward from this disagreement?
5. As someone who has achieved immense success in fencing, what do you think are the key qualities that make a champion?
Guest 2: Elisa Di Francisca
1. Why did you decide to address Valentina Vezzali publicly at the event celebrating 70 years of the Fiamme Oro police sports group?
2. What do you believe is the root of the ongoing tension between you and Valentina Vezzali?
3. You mentioned in your comments that you would like Valentina to learn how to respect people. Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?
4. How do you think your fellow team members and the broader fencing community view your interactions with Valentina Vezzali?
5. In your opinion, what qualities did you possess as an athlete that made you successful?
