The invincible Beatrice Vio
(Courtesy of Augusto Bizzi)
The 23-year-old Italian Paralympian defies convention on the fencing piste — and the runway.
As COVID-19 spread throughout Italy — and eventually the world — Beatrice “Bebe” Vio didn’t slow down. She took to Instagram to post messages of solidarity for her home country. She shared updates of her training while wearing a mask, helped fundraise for the Italian Red Cross and led workouts for Nike’s #PlayInside initiative.
If anyone can motivate a country to get through these trying times and overcome a deadly virus, Bebe might be the perfect coach.
Bebe began fencing at 5 years old. When she was 11 years old, she contracted meningitis — a swift and deadly virus. To keep Bebe alive, doctors amputated her arms and legs. After 104 days in the hospital and intense rehab, Bebe returned home.
She was determined to continue competing in the sport she loved. Even though she was already a skilled fencer, Bebe had to learn how to fight in a wheelchair, which required greater core strength and upper body coordination.
With her family’s support, she was able to return to fencing and won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, becoming the first quadruple amputee to compete in wheelchair fencing.
Bebe also works to help raise visibility for para-athletes. In 2009, Bebe and her family founded art4sport, an organisation that supports young amputee athletes with prosthetics and increases awareness about the Paralympics in Italy. And when Nike unveiled its new Olympic and Paralympic uniforms, Bebe proudly modelled the ones Team Italy will wear for the Tokyo Games. Bebe seems just as comfortable on the runway as she is in the fencing piste (the area strip where fencers compete). A regular guest at Milan’s Fashion Week, Bebe has appeared in Vogue Italia and loves Dior clothing.
I interviewed Bebe in February of this year (before the pandemic) about her life and career.
Hannah W. Orenstein (HWO): You first began fencing at 5 years old. How did you become involved with the sport?
Beatrice Vio (BV): It has been love at first sight! I went to a gym in Mogliano Veneto, my hometown, to try a volleyball lesson. When it finished, in the nearby room, there was a fencing lesson. I saw all these “white Zorro” that were fighting and I remained totally fascinated. The coach invited me to try and I fell in love with fencing.
HWO: What about fencing do you enjoy the most?
BV: I have to say that wheelchair fencing is different from standing fencing. Before my amputation I practiced standing fencing, but after my disease I discovered the “sitting” version. In wheelchair fencing you have to stay anchored to the wheelchair, you can’t move. For this reason you can’t retreat but you have to face the opponent. To win you need to attack, and I love it!
“In wheelchair fencing you have to stay anchored to the wheelchair, you can’t move. For this reason you can’t retreat but you have to face the opponent. To win you need to attack, and I love it!”
HWO: Can you tell us about your rehabilitation after recovering from meningitis at 11 years old? What was the process like for you both physically and mentally?
BV: I stayed at the hospital for 104 days and I came back home the day before my birthday. It has been a difficult process, in particular during the daily medications that were so painful. I had (and I still have) by my side all my family and my friends that always supported (and still support) me every day.
HWO: You are the only fencer in the world who competes without arms and legs. How do you train? Is your technique different from your opponents?
BV: I’m the only fencer in the world without the arm that keeps the foil (and now also the saber!). At the same time when I fence I have to keep off the prosthesis so I can’t hold me [in] the wheelchair. For this reason I have to train particularly my abs to hold me in balance and moving quickly.
HWO: Can you tell me about your NGO art4sport and why you founded the organisation with your parents?
(Courtesy of Bebe Vio)
BV: art4sport [was] founded in 2009 after my disease to help amputee kids enjoy life through sport. In Italy there is a total lack of support from National Health Service regarding sport prosthesis and these aids are so expensive. art4sport projects, studies and finances sport prosthesis and promotes the knowledge of the Paralympic world across Italy. art4sport carries on a lot of projects and organizes events like Giochi Senza Barriere, a charity event where eight teams compete.
HWO: You’re in university now at John Cabot American University. How do you balance studying with training and competitions?
BV: Now I attend the university lessons three days per week and I train five days per week, some days both in the morning and in the afternoon and some days only half day. The normal average hours of training is about six to eight hours per day. In this period ([leading] up to Tokyo 2020) it’s eight to 10 [hours] per day.
HWO: What are you studying in university? Do you have a favourite course?
BV: I’m studying communication and international relationships, and I love it!
HWO: Do you have plans after you graduate or will you continue to focus on your fencing career?
BV: I would like to continue my studies with a master’s in New York but at the same time I want to carry on my fencing career.
HWO: You’ve appeared in Vogue Italia, attended Paris Fashion Week and modelled Nike’s new uniform for the Italian Olympic team. What draws you to fashion?
BV: I like [the] fashion world and I like being dressed in fashion. In particular, I’m fascinated [by] strong women that are at the head of important fashion brands like Maria Grazia Chiuri [who] is Dior Creative Director. But my first interest remains absolutely sport and in particular Paralympic sport.
HWO: In addition to an accomplished fencing career, you have built a large platform on social media. Do you ever use it to speak about issues? Do you consider yourself an advocate?
BV: I think that I have the great opportunity to communicate a message to a large number of people via social networks and this is very important. If you can bring to light a problem or an issue that could help somebody to react or support somebody that is in a bad situation you have to do it. Only in this way we could build a strong and united world.
We have edited and condensed this interview for clarity.
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