Valentina
Margaglio

Growing up in the small low-lying city of Casale Monferrato, Italy, the skeleton bobsledding wasn't even on the radar for Valentina Margaglio growing up. Instead, it was track and field that drew her in and she excelled at various disciplinesShe has competed at a national level in both speed and strength disciplines, including the shotput and javelin.

Her athletic ability and all round power made her a target for bobsleigh coaches however and in 2011 Valentina swapped the athletics track for the bobsleigh track, becoming a brakeman. Just one year later, she was part of the Italian squad at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Austria.