The Tokyo Games kick off on Wednesday: all our athletes at the start
the protagonists
To outline the character’s scope, it would be enough to remember that tomorrow, with the swimmer Federico Morlacchi, he will be the standard-bearer of the blue expedition at the Tokyo Paralympics. But, in the case of the fencer Bebe Vio, the prestigious award, a dream realized after the role of torchbearer in London 2012, does not allow us to fully frame the planetary dimension reached by the 24-year-old from Mogliano.
STAR OF GAMES
The French newspaper L’Équipe thought of giving us a “refresh” to our memory, electing her as the cover athlete of the upcoming Paralympic Games. Abdicating to traditional chauvinism, he celebrated Bebe as the standard-bearer of Paralympism, as a universal symbol of the most important sporting event for the disabled. More: a symbol of how you can get up from an illness, becoming a model and reference for young people. A universal character, who took a precise direction after the contagious exultation of the 2016 Brazilian edition: he hit the individual gold and the team bronze in the foil, the joy of his eyes became the most effective summary image of the Games. Then the invitation to the White House and the selfie “snatched” from the then American President Barack Obama would also arrive. Bebe elevated herself to the limitless athlete. And today in the world she is known as Caeleb Dressel, a five-title swimming star at the Tokyo Olympics. Bebe will ideally be the standard-bearer of all the athletes competing from 24 August to 5 September, driving the Paralympic universe. And the girl who lost her four limbs to meningitis at the age of 11, is preparing to live a week as a “toy town”. And, sportingly speaking, as a protagonist. With the Venetian Paralympic movement to enjoy it: queen of an ambitious expedition that includes 16 athletes, 14% of the 113 Azzurri called up. Said of the opening ceremony, the wait will be all for next weekend (no saber), when the Moglianese champion, who has even transformed into a Barbie and a statuette of the crib in San Gregorio Armeno, will be called to give back enamel to the tradition of the blue foil, which came out clubbed (especially in women) from the Games of the able-bodied: undisputed favorite for the encore in the individual on Saturday, she will look for the brace in the team competition the next day, which five years ago, crowning a splendid comeback, he had seen her take the bronze. A medal that Bebe has always felt even more hers than individual gold. The podium to which it is most linked, because it expresses the concept of the group. And it is known that he has a mad desire to convert that bronze into the shiniest metal in Tokyo. But there is more: Bebe is proud of the convening in Tokyo of seven blues (four of fencing) supported by her association Art4Sport. “As a child they told me that you cannot fence without arms, but I have shown everyone that arms are useless: if you have a dream, go and take it”, the message launched yesterday at the press conference.
AND VETERANS
The universal dimension of Bebe is the daughter of the “conquests” of the pioneers of Paralympism. Of those who sowed when the maximum manifestation of the disabled did not enjoy live TV, nor the interest of the media around the world. First of all, the thought goes to a protagonist absent in Tokyo, that Alex Zanardi who has been fighting a hard battle for over a year after a serious car accident. The former Bolognese rider, Paduan by adoption, exalted himself in para-cycling at London 2012 and Rio 2016: even before Bebe, he assured the Paralympic successes the same consideration as the Olympic laurels. But there are those who had indicated the route even before. The veteran in Japan will be Francesca Porcellato, who arrived at the age of 50 at the Paralympics number 11: a planetary record. He has ranged from athletics to cross-country skiing, then finding a new inexhaustible source of medals in para-cycling. The “Rossa Volante”, roots in Poggiana and residence in Valeggio sul Mincio, already boasts 13 Paralympic medals in three disciplines and has every intention of adding to the booty: it will compete – category WH3 – on 31 August in the time trial and on 1 September in the online test. He will try to leave a sweet memory, it could be the last Paralympic. Although with her it has always been preferable not to overbalance: «I had to close in Rio already, never say never with me». The 32-year-old Paduan swimmer Francesco Bettella must be included in the group of the most experienced, who returned from Rio with a double silver on 50 and 100 backstrokes, and who still aims very high. Fourth time at the Paralympics for Michela Brunelli, 47-year-old from Verona of table tennis. Tris for Andrea Borgato da Solesino, who practices the same sport.
NEW GENERATION
But there are also those who grew up with the myth of Bebe, who approached Paralympism in the wake of the blue feats in Brazil. Just think of Asia Pellizzari, 19 year old from Mareno, the promise of the compound bow. First participation in the Games, like the Venetian swimmer Antonio Fantin, double gold at the 2019 World Cup. Without forgetting the other “debs” Francesca Cipelli, who will represent Mira in athletics, and Silvia Biasi, who from Godega left to conquer the Paralympics in sitting volley. Baptism for the swimmer Luigi Beggiato and the archer Stefano Travisani, Paduan like Chiara Nardo, newcomer in rowing. Same goes for the Veronese Federico Falco, Stefano Raimondi and Misha Palazzo, of swimming. Second experience for colleague and fellow countryman Xenia Francesca Palazzo. –
Mattia Toffoletto