Mauro Numa is an Italian fencer and one of the strongest during the 1980s.His career started very early and in 1979, at 18, he was included in the Foil's Italian Team. In 1980 Numa could not compete at the Moscow Olympic Games

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

 due to the boycott.

In 1984 at 22 he competed at the Los Angeles Olympic Games

1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

 winning gold in the individual and team foil

Foil (fencing)

A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...

 events. In the final for the Individual Title Numa won over Matthias Behr

Matthias Behr

Matthias Behr is a German foil fencer. He won a gold medal and three silvers at three Olympic Games.Matthias Behr is married to the former foil fencer Zita Funkenhauser...

. Less than 1 minute before the end Behr was 4 points up but Numa caught his opponent and eventually won in the tie break with the final score of 12-11.

In the following years Numa confirmed to be one of the strongest in Foil Individual winning medals in Barcelona 1985, in Sofia 1986, Denver 1989, Lyon 1990 World Championships.