Baldini will get a chance to realize his boyhood dream next month in Beijing. The 22-year-old has been ranked number one in the world for two years, so he is the favourite for the foil gold, as much as one can be in a sport renowned for upsets.
He will have to defeat triple world champion Peter Joppich of Germany, who beat him in the last two world championship finals.
"Yes, he's starting to be a problem," Baldini joked. "Peter is a very good champion. He is ... always ready for the big match, but also a good man outside the piste."
Other fencers vying for the Olympic title are China's Sheng Lei and Jun Zhu, Athens winner Brice Guyart of France and Baldini's team mate Salvatore Sanzo, who lost in the 2004 final.
"It is a strange competition," Baldini said. "In one day you display the work of a lifetime. There will be 10,000 variables that will determine the winner."
Image: Baldini (left) fights with Peter Joppich during the final of the men's team foil at the FIE World Championships held as an Olympic test event in Beijing, on April 18, 2008.
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