Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio, better known as Bebe Vio was born in Venice. She is an Italian wheelchair fencer, 2014 and 2016 European champion, 2015 and 2017 World champion, and 2016 Paralympic champion in the foil B category.
In late 2008, when she was 11 years old, she was affected by severe meningitis that caused her an infection and then the amputation of both her legs from the knee, and both her arms from the forearms. After more than three months of intensive rehabilitation she was able to come back to sport.
Medal Record
| Event | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Paralympic Games | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| World Championships | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| European Championships | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 1 | 1 |
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal First place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Foil B
Bronze medal Third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Vio is a champion wheelchair fencer. She uses a special prosthetics to hold her foil, fencing from the shoulder. Under the coaching of Federica Berton and Alice Esposito she took part in her first wheelchair fencing competition in 2010. Her experience inspired her parents to found the non-profit organization Art4sport Onlus, which promotes sport for amputee young people.
The 2012 Summer Paralympics were too early in her career for her to take part, but she was chosen a torchbearer for the opening ceremony after an online campaign where more than 1,000 people emailed the International Paralympic Committee to support her candidacy.
She received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2018.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar did a candid interview with Beatrice Vio, World Wheelchair Fencing Champion, Paralympics Gold Medalist and European champion where she talks about her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You are the 2016 Paralympic champion in the foil B category and bronze medalist of team foil overcoming the physical challenges. Share your mental & physical strategies to achieve these goals?
Beatrice Vio:
In every part of my life I focuse on the goal and I use all my forces to achieve it. In particular, during a wheelchair fencing match, I look the opponent into the eyes and I try to stay focused at 100%… sometimes I don’t realize even if I’m in advantage or in disadvantage!
Namita Nayyar:
You have continued to pursue three passions since childhood, which you dub “the three S’s”: school (Scuola in Italian), fencing (scherma), which you took up when you were was five, and scouting (scoutismo). According to you what sets you apart?
Beatrice Vio:
These were the three elements of my life when I was younger. Fencing is still today an essential element and it completely represents me. For me wheelchair fencing is a metaphor of life: you can’t run away, you have to fight against your fears and win. That’s why I love both wheelchair fencing and life!
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life, as an athlete and an inspirational woman. Three keys to achieving a dream.
Beatrice Vio:
To make a dream come true I think you need passion, planning and perseverance. I have to add a fourth key that is what I call “teams”: a group (or more groups) of people that can help and support you: family, friends, trainers etc. Alone you are nobody!
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share with our viewers? Exercise to enhance focus.
Beatrice Vio:
I use to train a lot my abs with specific exercises. These type of exercises are fundamental because these muscles are the barycenter of the body. They balance all the structure and increase the strenght of it.
Namita Nayyar:
Share the diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Role of diet in making a strong sportsperson. Supplements that help enhance performance.
Beatrice Vio:
I’m supported by a professional team in which there is also a nutritionist. Every week I have a food plan to follow with a varied and well-balanced diet. I don’t use food supplements.
Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your biggest motivator in your career?
Beatrice Vio:
My family. They supported me in every moment and after my disease they helped me to start again with fencing. At the beginning, I didn’t want to try wheelchair fencing because I considered it a “sport for disabled people” compared to standing fencing that I practised before. I was wrong! Wheelchair fencing is so cool: you can’t escape; you have to face the opponent and fight for the win!
Namita Nayyar:
How have your personal struggles helped you in achieving the greatest goals in life?
Beatrice Vio:
I think that you have to enjoy every minute of your life! For me, you can’t live your life complaining yourself and getting depressed. Life is a beautiful journey and a precious gift, this is an important awareness that can change the way of seeing life and can help to stay focused!
Namita Nayyar:
Social media is instrumental these days. How do you make the most of it to inspire your following of 984K?
Beatrice Vio:
Through social media I show especially my everyday life as the days spent at the university and the training sessions. I don’t consider myself an inspiring person but I’m simply myself and I try to send a positive message that can helps somebody around the world.
Namita Nayyar:
Amidst the terror of COVID-19, one life lesson that you’ve learned?
Beatrice Vio:
As during other times of my life, in this period I’ve learned that everything can change in a moment. There are things that you cant’t control so you have to be respectful and hope for better times. In a moment like this every one of us really understood which the important things of life are.
Namita Nayyar:
You are an inspiration to so many across the world, Share the role of your family and friends in achieving success.
Beatrice Vio:
As I said before, family and friends has been and are still today fundamental. Without them, I couldn’t do it. They support and bear me everyday! The real strength is to have somebody that loves you and believes in what you do… and for this I’m really lucky!
Namita Nayyar:
Share a few words about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our visitors?
Beatrice Vio:
I really like that there is a website dedicated to the female fitness. Generally sport is more a male activity but I think that is very important also for all the women. Through sport women can feel better physically and mentally and be stronger!
Beatrice Vio Social Media Presence
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness