Daria Fantoni

Daria Fantoni was an Italian dressage specialist. Born in 1942 in Torino, she took part in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games at the age of 46 in individual dressage, riding Sonny Boy, closing the qualifications in 22nd place, and failing to qualify for the final.

In her career Fantoni also took part in four editions of the European Championships in dressage, placing 41st in the individual and 10th in teams at Aachen in 1983, 31st in the individual and 8th in teams at Goodwood in 1987, 10th in the individual and 5th in teams at Donaueschingen in 1991, and 10th in teams at Mondorf-les-Bains in 1995. At the World Championships she finished 9th in teams at Stockholm in 1990 and 5th in teams at The Hague in 1994.

Fantoni also competed at the 1991 and 1996 Olympics, always aboard Sonny Boy, who died in 2009 at the age of 33 due to a lung abscess. Sonny Boy was the horse of the heart for Daria. “A simply fantastic horse, which made me fall in love with dressage. A myth and a friend for me,” said the Italian equestrienne.

Fantoni later became dedicated to breeding horses. English lawns, paddocks, manicured boxes, and a life of horses have been Fantoni’s life who, after a life dedicated to dressage, did her best in breeding equine breeds such as the English Thoroughbred and the Trakehner. At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Daria Fantoni lit the cauldron in her town of Pinerolo, the venue for the curling competitions.