Paola Paternoster (née Carotenuto; 22 December 1935 – 27 June 2018) was an Italian athlete. She competed in the discus throw at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics and in the javelin throw in 1956, and placed 11th–20th.^[3]

Multipurpose athlete, she has won 17 national titles in five different disciplines (high jump, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw and pentathlon).^[5] She participated in two editions of the Olympic Games: Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960.^[3]

• High jump: 1.62 m Naples, 26 June 1956), till 14 September 1957^[1]
• Shot put: 14.38 m Rome, 28 March 1959), till 27 June 1965^[1]
• Discus throw: 51.33 m Rome, 27 March 1960), till 17 June 1965^[1]
• Javelin throw: 47.96 m Bucharest, 23 June 1957), till 11 September 1970^[1]

Paternoster won 17 national championships at the senior level,^[6][7]

• High jump: 1955 (1)
• Shot put: 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960 (5)
• Discus throw: 1955, 1956, 1957 (3)
• Javelin throw: 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961 (5)
• Pentathlon: 1954, 1955, 1956 (3)

• Women's high jump Italian record progression