Sofia Giunchiglia / Giulia Schio

Nicknamed Italy's "Sicilian Blondies," Sofia Giunchiglia and crew Giulia Schio won the 49erFX Junior World Championship in 2024, the culmination of a steady junior rise from 18th in 2022 to silver in 2023.

In 2026 they claimed their first senior World Cup victory, winning the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres with a dominant light-air display.

Giunchiglia is among Italy's brightest FX prospects for Los Angeles 2028.

Giulia Schio crews for Sofia Giunchiglia in the Italian FX pairing known as the "Sicilian Blondies."

After progressing to the 2024 Junior World title, the duo broke through at senior level in 2026 by winning the French Olympic Week in Hyeres, their first World Cup win, excelling when the breeze went light.

Schio and Giunchiglia are firmly on the Olympic pathway toward LA 2028.