Elena Tonetta

Lore & Background

Elena Tonetta began her international career as a junior archer, winning the Junior European Championship in 2005 at Silkeborg, Denmark. The following year she placed second in the Junior World Cup final held in Mérida, Mexico. In 2007 she won the Italian National Championship in Castenaso, and in 2008 she took the bronze medal in the individual game at the European XI European and Mediterranean Indoor Archery Championships. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Tonetta finished the ranking round with 595 points, earning the 55th seed. In the first round she faced 10th seed Ana Rendón of Colombia; both archers scored 106 in the regular match, but Rendón won the extra round 10–9. Tonetta also competed in the team event with Natalia Valeeva and Pia Carmen Lionetti. The Italian team ranked 9th after the ranking round (combined scores: Valeeva 634, Lionetti 613, Tonetta 595). They defeated Chinese Taipei 215–211 in the first round but were eliminated in the quarter-final by South Korea, who set a new world record of 231 points.

Reader's Guide

Elena Tonetta's career is marked by early success at the junior level, becoming Junior European Champion in 2005 and earning a silver medal at the Junior World Cup final in 2006. Her national title in 2007 and bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships in 2008 further established her as a competitive archer. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she represented Italy in both individual and team events. Her individual match against Ana Rendón was decided by an extra round after a tied score of 106, a close contest that highlighted her composure under pressure. In the team event, alongside Natalia Valeeva and Pia Carmen Lionetti, the Italian team advanced past Chinese Taipei before falling to the eventual gold medalists from South Korea, who set a world record in the process. Tonetta's Olympic participation and her junior achievements place her among the Italian archers who competed at the highest levels during that period.

Did You Know?

• Elena Tonetta was born on 8 June 1988 in Rovereto, Italy.
• At the 2008 Olympics, her first-round match against Ana Rendón went to an extra round after both scored 106.
• In the team event at the 2008 Olympics, Italy defeated Chinese Taipei 215–211 before losing to South Korea.