Valentina Vezzali

Foil. Vezzali won individual foil gold at three consecutive Olympics, Sydney, Athens and Beijing, plus team golds, and 16 world titles. Left-handed and tactically ruthless, she was a master of the counterattack and of manipulating right of way, drawing an opponent's attack and then taking the priority back. Her bouts are the best place to learn how foil referees decide who scored when both lights go on.