Mario Tullio Montano

Mario Tullio Montano was born to a fencing family that has produced five Olympic fencing medalists. His uncle Aldo Montano was a prominent sabre fencer in the 1930s and 1940s, who won Olympic team silvers in 1936 and 1948 and five World Championships golds (1938 and 1948 individual and team, and 1950 team) and later was a successful fencing master with Circolo Scherma Fides in Livorno, founded by Beppe Nadi, father of Nedo and Aldo Nadi. Mario Tullio’s cousin Mario Aldo Montano, son of Aldo, won a 1972 Olympic team sabre gold and was the 1973 individual World sabre champion and Mario Aldo’s son Aldo Montano was the 2004 Olympic sabre champion and has won two World Championships golds (individual in 2011 and team in 2015). Mario Tullio’s brothers Carlo and Tommaso were also world class fencers in 1970s, Tommaso winning 1976 Olympic team sabre silver and Carlo, being the only foil fencer of the family, winning Olympic team foil silver, also in 1976.

Coached by his uncle, Mario Tullio Montano was on the Italian national team from 1970-77. He won 1972 Olympic team sabre gold and 1976 team sabre silver. At the World Championships, Mario Tullio won three team bronzes in 1971 and 1973-74. Mario Tullio was also Universiade team sabre champion in 1967 and won individual sabre bronze at the 1967 Universiade and team sabre bronze at the 1970 Universiade. He was also the 1972 Italian sabre champion. After finishing his sporting career, Mario Tullio worked as a fencing coach with Circolo Scherma Fides.