Fencing and Finance in Ilaria Buricelli's Present and Future

Fencing is a family tradition, since her grandfather practiced the sport when he was young. It is also a sport with a long tradition in her native city, Venice. But all this is not what sealed Ilaria Buricelli's fate. One of the seven students recognized at the first edition of the Dean's Award, the initiative promoted by the Undergraduate School for students who manage to combine an outstanding university career with high level extra-curricular activities, Ilaria chose fencing for passion.

"I played various sports," she says, "but then I chose fencing, in particular the foil." Ilaria, in her second year of the Bachelor of Science in International Economics and Finance at Bocconi, practices three times a week in Milan at the historic Circolo della Spada Mangiarotti club, then she participates in competitions, especially at a national level.

"For now, it's not too much. I'm passionate about what I'm doing, both in athletics and academics, and that makes everything easier. But it was obvious that I needed to cut back a little on fencing," she says. "I've also participated in international competitions, in a world championship when I was under 20, but now I'm focusing on national competitions. But of course if I practiced every day, like full-time athletes, I would be even better."

For her professional future, Ilaria Buricelli has not made any definitive choices yet, and time is on her side: "At the moment I'm thinking about financial accounting, I'd like to work in the field of finance. But as I continue my studies, I'll get a better idea of what I want to do."