Elisabetta Dessy

Elisabetta Dessy was the daughter of Giorgio Dessy and Amalia Acqua, countess of Osimo. Joining Circolo Canottieri Aniene, she was trained along with the Olympian Roberto Pangaro by coach Celio Brunelleschi. A member of the Italian swimming team from 1971-76, she earned over 15 international caps. At the 1974 European Championships in Wien (Vienna) Dessy competed in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. She competed in several editions of Coppa Latina (Latina Cup) in Marseille 1974, Las Palmas 1975, and Acapulco 1976. She won a gold medal at the 1975 Mediterranean Games in the 4x100 freestyle relay and a bronze in the 100 free. At the 1976 Montréal Olympics she competed only in the medley relay, where in the heats she helped Italy to a national record. Dessy was also Italian champion in 100 free in 1974-76.

After retirement from sporting activity at only 19-years-old, she became a full-time model. During the 1970s and 1980s she represented many well-known Italian fashion houses such as Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Fendi, Missoni, Trussardi, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, and Krizia. In the following years she became the face of advertising campaigns of Ferragamo, Gucci, Valentino, Tiffany, and Sergio Rossi. In the 2010s she founded the Maison of Haute Couture les Bhamarà in Roma.