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