Aldo Masciotta

Aldo Masciotta was an Italian fencer who won a silver medal in team sabre at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Masciotta was capped 64 times with the Italian national team between 1934-48, taking part in five European Championships and winning one continental title in sabre. Among his palmarès were the individual title at the 1933 International University Games (a forerunner of the Universiade), and a 1935 international tournament in Roma. At the World Championships he claimed team gold in 1938 and team silvers in sabre in 1935 and 1937. From 1957-68 he was President of the Torino Fencing Club.

Born to a wealthy family, Masciotta started fencing in high school. He attended university in Firenze and Napoli where he graduated as a surgeon, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, which he practiced in Torino. During World War II Masciotta was a medical officer on the Franco-Italian front, where he earned a bronze medal for military valor. He was an Italian pioneer in colposcopy and in methods to screen for and diagnose cervical cancer.

Masciotta died at 87 and was buried in his hometown of Casacalenda. His gravestone contained a simple epitaph: ALDO MASCIOTTA – Olimpionico – 1909-1996. His daughter, Giovanna, competed in foil fencing at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics.