Fencer Vezzali will carry Italian flag at Olympics
Jun. 22 8:39 AM EDT
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Valentina Vezzali of Italy reacts as she competes with Astrid Guyart of France during the women's teams foil final at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Valentina Vezzali, of Italy, left, competes with Corinne Maitrejean, of France, during the women's team foil final at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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The Italian women's foil team, from left: Elisa Di Francesca, Ilaria Salvatori, Arianna Errigo and Valentina Vezzali pose on the podium after receiving the gold medal at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Elisa Di Francesca, left, Ilaria Salvatori and Valentina Vezzali of the Italian women's foil team celebrate on the podium after receiving the gold medal at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Valentina Vezzali of Italy, left, competes with Corinne Maitrejean of France, during the women's teams foil final at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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The Italian women's foil team, from left, Elisa Di Francesca, Ilaria Salvatori, Arianna Errigo and Valentina Vezzali pose on the podium after receiving the gold medal at the European Fencing Championship in Legnano, Italy, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
ROME (AP) — Olympic fencing champion Valentina Vezzali will carry the Italian flag at the opening ceremony of the London Games.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano handed Vezzali the flag she will carry at a special ceremony Friday before more than 80 other Italian Olympians.
Vezzali says "receiving the flag was very, very emotional, like when you win or place the winning jab." She adds that when she leads out Italy's delegation July 27 "we will be full of fire to represent Italy to the best."
The 38-year-old Vezzali has won five Olympic gold medals, along with 13 golds at the world fencing championships.
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