Beatrice Vio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beatrice Vio |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Bebe Vio in 2018
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio Grandis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Bebe Vio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio 4 March 1997 Venice, Italy |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Fencing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weapon | foil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hand | left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National coach | Simone Vanni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Scherma Mogliano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Federica Berton, Alice Esposito | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beatrice Vio Grandis, also known as Bebe Vio, is a famous Italian wheelchair fencer. She is a multiple-time champion, having won gold medals at the European Championships, World Championships, and the Paralympic Games. She competes in the foil B category, which is for fencers with disabilities affecting their legs and trunk.
Contents
Early Life and Health Challenge
Bebe Vio was born in Venice, Italy, on March 4, 1997. She grew up in the town of Mogliano Veneto. As a child, she loved three things she called "the three S's": school (scuola in Italian), fencing (scherma), and scouting (scoutismo). She started fencing when she was just five years old.
In late 2008, at age 11, Bebe became very sick with meningitis, a serious illness. To save her life, doctors had to amputate both of her forearms and both of her legs from the knee down. After her surgery, she spent over three months in the hospital for recovery and therapy. With great determination, she was able to return to the sport she loved.
In 2023, she earned a degree in Communication and International Relations from John Cabot University in Rome.
A Champion's Fencing Career
Bebe Vio is a world-class wheelchair fencer. Because she doesn't have forearms, she uses a special prosthetic arm to hold her foil, which is a type of sword used in fencing. She fences from her shoulder, showing amazing skill and strength.
Her first competition in wheelchair fencing was in 2010. Her journey inspired her parents to start a non-profit group called Art4sport Onlus. This organization helps other young people with amputations get involved in sports.
Rise to International Fame
Bebe was still early in her career during the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, so she didn't compete. However, she was chosen to be a torchbearer at the opening ceremony. This happened after more than 1,000 people wrote to the International Paralympic Committee to support her.
In 2013, she won her first World Cup event in Montreal. This big win earned her the title of "Paralympic Athlete of the Month" from the International Paralympic Committee. In 2014, she won both the individual and team events at the European Championships. The Italian Paralympic Committee named her "Italian Paralympic Athlete of the Year."
The next year, in 2015, she became the world champion. She also published her autobiography, Mi hanno regalato un sogno (which means They Gave Me a Dream).
Paralympic Gold Medals
Bebe's biggest dream was to compete in the Paralympics. She qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro as the top-ranked fencer in her category. In Rio, she was unstoppable. She won all her early matches and went on to the final. On September 14, 2016, she defeated China's Jingjing Zhou with a score of 15–7 to win her first Paralympic gold medal.
She continued her success at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, which took place in 2021. On August 28, she once again faced Jingjing Zhou in the final and won another gold medal. She also won a silver and a bronze medal in team events at the Tokyo and Rio Games.
At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, she earned two bronze medals, one in the individual foil event and another in the team foil event.
Helping and Inspiring Others
Because of her experience with meningitis, Bebe Vio has become a strong supporter of early vaccination. She encourages people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from dangerous diseases.
In 2018, she received the America Award from the Italy-USA Foundation for her achievements and for being an inspiration to people around the world.
Film Appearance
Bebe Vio was featured in the 2020 documentary film Rising Phoenix. The film tells the story of the Paralympic Games and features several amazing Paralympic athletes.
See also
In Spanish: Beatrice Vio para niños
