Once a shimmering presence on the fencing strip, Italy`s Dorina Vaccaroni, affectionately known as “The Divine Dodi,” has embarked on an extraordinary second act. Trading precise lunges for relentless long-distance cycling, her story is a testament to an insatiable appetite for challenge and a unique path to inner peace.
The Fencing Phenom Who Defied Convention
Even before her 14th birthday, Dorina Vaccaroni was already wielding a foil at the World Championships in Buenos Aires. By 16, she was competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, placing an impressive sixth against seasoned athletes old enough to be her mother. But Vaccaroni wasn`t just a prodigious talent; she was a force of nature, injecting a much-needed jolt of glamour and femininity into the otherwise staid world of Italian fencing. She was “sfrontata” (bold), “capricciosa” (capricious), and undeniably “vezzosa” (charming). Her signature braid, short hair, abundant rings and earrings, painted nails, and even plush toys by the strip, made her an instant celebrity, gracing magazine covers and briefly marrying footballer Andrea Manzo.
For two decades, “The Divine Dodi” reigned, clinching individual world titles and Olympic team gold. Yet, despite her undeniable success and popularity, the confines of the gym eventually felt too small for her expansive spirit. The “fire within,” as she describes it, demanded a new, grander stage. By the late 1990s, at the age of 30, having conquered all she desired in fencing, Vaccaroni abruptly stepped away.
Embracing the Endless Road: A Journey to Ultracycling
Her retirement from fencing wasn`t an end, but a dramatic pivot. About 25 years ago, in a spinning class, Vaccaroni discovered a latent, formidable aerobic capacity. This revelation set her on a course that would redefine her athletic identity: ultracycling. The transition, perhaps surprising to those who knew her as the elegant fencer, made perfect sense to her. “I can cycle for four days without sleeping,” she states with a matter-of-fact tone, a testament to her extraordinary endurance. Her recent feat at the Ultracycling Dolomitica — 718 kilometers, 22 mountain passes, and nearly 20,000 meters of elevation gain completed in just over 47 hours — serves as a vivid illustration of her new passion`s demands.
Initially dabbling in traditional cycling, even racing for official teams and competing in Masters World Championships, Vaccaroni soon felt the urge to “extend the mileage” – an understatement for someone now clocking approximately 50,000 kilometers annually. This includes grueling training rides that can last from 6 AM to 4 PM.
Conquering Continents and Personal Best
The pinnacle of her ultracycling achievements lies in the legendary Race Across America (RAAM) – a staggering 5,000-kilometer, coast-to-coast odyssey from the Pacific to the Atlantic, crossing 12 states with over 50,000 meters of elevation gain. Vaccaroni has conquered this monumental race twice. She describes it not just as a competition, but “a journey within yourself, a test of resistance and resilience.” Her unwavering mental fortitude is evident in her perfect record: she has never had a critical moment during a RAAM, nor has she ever retired from a race. The immediate aftermath of finishing an ultracycling event only leaves her craving the next one, feeling “good and at peace with myself” on the bike.
Her ambitions remain undiminished. She is already setting her sights on her fifth RAAM attempt in June 2026, with the audacious goal of completing it in under ten days, improving on her current best of eleven. Before that, the 24-hour World Championship in Austria in mid-August looms, where she aims to cover 800 kilometers.
From Italy to California: A Life Unbound
For the past decade, Vaccaroni has called California home, residing ten months a year in San Diego after moving from San Francisco for its more favorable climate. Her decision to leave Italy, a country she loves, was driven by a sense of constraint. She recalls the absurdity of being unable to coach fencers, including rising star Martina Favaretto, without a specific diploma. This bureaucratic hurdle pushed her first to Switzerland and then to the welcoming shores of California, where she now coaches fencing and serves as a mental coach in a San Diego gym. She recently acquired American citizenship while proudly retaining her Italian passport, a dual identity reflecting her boundless spirit.
Vaccaroni’s personality, often described as frank and direct (“schietta”), hasn`t mellowed with age or success. She dismisses notions that her forthrightness might have cost her opportunities, asserting that she would never compromise on speaking her mind. Her fencing coach, Attilio Fini, famously granted her special privileges, such as a private room, because her medal count validated her unconventional approach. As for the envy of her peers due to her popularity? “It’s part of life,” she muses, “I never cared much about it.” And the fame itself, with its relentless attention and magazine covers? It never bothered her; she was “perfectly at ease.”
The Legacy of a Self-Made Athlete
Dorina Vaccaroni`s journey from “The Divine Dodi” of fencing to an ultracycling titan is more than a tale of athletic prowess; it`s a profound narrative of self-discovery and an unwavering commitment to living life on her own terms. Her daughters, Jessica and Annette, now grown, did not follow her to California – a decision she fully supports, embodying her philosophy that children, once nurtured, must learn to fly solo. Vaccaroni is not, she clarifies, “a helicopter mom.”
She attributes her initial victories to her parents and her mentor, Master Di Rosa. Today, her triumphs are self-made, forged in the crucible of thousands of miles and countless hours of solitude on the bike. Dorina Vaccaroni remains an enduring icon, a living testament to the power of transformation, proving that true champions are not merely defined by their sport, but by their relentless pursuit of what lies beyond the horizon.
Murray Blackwood