“Bebe” Vio was introduced to the world of fencing very early on. She picked up the sword at the age of just 5 years old, and immediately fell in love with this elegant sport, so the decision to take her skills to the Olympic level came easy. A sudden illness left Vio without the use of all four limbs, but she didn’t give up on her dream of a gold medal. Instead, she has achieved her goal and inspired thousands of people with her perseverance and optimism.
She survived a fatal illness
Now a world-famous Paralympic champion, Beatrice “Bebe” Vio lived the life of an ordinary child. She was a fencer, an artist, and a scout. At the age of 11, her world was turned upside down as Vio contracted meningitis.
The illness came on suddenly, and developed acutely in just three days. Doctors had to amputate Beatrice’s arms below the elbows and legs below the knees. This put the young athlete in the 4{5e7c65e441e52f4bf1acfd584b456199c30fd15874601cbb78ed6380992e3048} of people who are able to return to their daily life after such a severe illness. Vio was discharged from hospital after 3.5 months, after a series of plastic surgeries for skin grafts.
Bebe Vio admits that after losing her limbs she was plagued by doubts and questions. “My biggest concern of not having my hands was how am I going to be able to do fencing and draw?” Luckily, Beatrice’s mother was there to share her wisdom — fencing and art don’t come from the hands, but from the mind.
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