{{short description|Italian wheelchair fencer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox fencer | name = Beatrice Vio | image = Beatrice Vio 2018 (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | caption = Bebe Vio in 2018 | fullname = Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio Grandis | nickname = Bebe Vio | birth_name = Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Venice, Italy | nationality = | height = | weight = | hand = left-handed | weapon = foil | club = Scherma Mogliano | natlcoach = Simone Vanni | headcoach = Federica Berton, Alice Esposito | country = Italy | retired = | fieranking = | website = {{URL|bebevio.com}} | medaltemplates = {{MedalCount|total=yes | Paralympic Games | 2 | 1 | 3 | World Championships | 3 | 0 | 0 | European Championships | 4 | 1 | 0 }} {{MedalCompetition|Summer Paralympics}} {{MedalGold|2016 Rio de Janeiro|Foil B}} {{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|Foil B}} {{MedalSilver|2020 Tokyo|Team foil}} {{MedalBronze|2016 Rio de Janeiro|Team foil}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Paris|Foil B}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Paris|Team foil}} | show-medals = yes }}
'''Beatrice Maria Adelaide Marzia Vio Grandis''' (born 4 March 1997), known as '''Bebe Vio''', is an Italian wheelchair fencer, the 2014 and 2016 European champion, 2015 and 2017 World champion, and 2016 and 2020 Paralympic champion in the foil B category.<ref name="vio_victorious_tokyo_2020_as_italian_retains_wheelchair_fencing_foil_title_2021">{{Cite news |last=Pavitt |first=Michael |date=28 August 2021 |title=Vio victorious at Tokyo 2020 as Italian retains wheelchair fencing foil title |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1112247/vio-wheelchair-fencing-tokyo-2020-gold |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>
==Life== Bebe Vio was born in Venice on 4 March 1997 as the second of three siblings and raised in Mogliano Veneto.<ref name="LR14">{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2014/06/12/news/bebe_vio-88770840/ |title=Bebe Vio, che ha battuto la Vezzali cambiando la sopravvivenza in vita |first=Diego |last=Costa |newspaper=La Repubblica |date=12 June 2014 |language=Italian}}</ref><ref name=Tokyo2020>{{cite web |url=https://tokyo2020.org/paralympic-games/en/results/wheelchair-fencing/athlete-profile-n1649569-vio-beatrice-maria.htm |title=Wheelchair Fencing - VIO Beatrice Maria |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=29 August 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829133838/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/wheelchair-fencing/athlete-profile-n1649569-vio-beatrice-maria.htm |archive-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> In her childhood she pursued three passions, which she dubs "the three S's": school ({{lang|it|scuola}} in Italian), fencing ({{lang|it|scherma}}), which she took up when she was five,<ref name="WhyV">{{cite news |page=134 |work=National Geographic |date=November 2017 |title=Why Vaccines Matter |first=Cynthia |last=Gorney}}</ref> and scouting ({{lang|it|scoutismo}}).<ref name="LR14" />
In late 2008, when she was 11 years old, she contracted meningitis. In order to save her life, doctors had to amputate both her legs at the knee, and both her forearms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/feature/one-year-wheelchair-fencing-star-bebe-vio |title=One year on: Wheelchair fencing star Bebe Vio |date=31 August 2013 |work=Paralympic.org}}</ref> After more than three months of intensive rehabilitation she was able to return to fencing.<ref name="IFQ">{{cite news |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/07/11/tirare-di-scherma-e-vincere-con-quattro-protesi-e-beatrice-vio-tedofora-alle-paralimpadi/289233/ |title=Tirare di scherma con quattro protesi, è Beatrice Vio tedofora alle Paralimpadi |last=Pisapia |first=Luca |date=11 June 2012 |newspaper=Il Fatto quotidiano |language=Italian}}</ref> In 2009 her parents founded the non-profit organization Art4sport Onlus, which promotes sport for young amputees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Hannah |date=2020-08-06 |title=The invincible Beatrice Vio — Assembly |url=https://assembly.malala.org/stories/the-invincible-beatrice-vio |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=Assembly – Malala Fund |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2023, she graduated from Communication and International Relations at John Cabot University in Rome.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aricò |first=Giacomo |date=2023-05-18 |title=Bebe Vio, una nuova lezione a non mollare mai: le rubano la tesi, lei la riscrive in tempi record e si laurea |url=https://www.vogue.it/article/bebe-vio-laurea-tesi |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=Vogue Italia |language=it-IT}}</ref>
== Athletics== Vio is a champion wheelchair fencer. She uses a special prosthetics to hold her foil, fencing from the shoulder.<ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/the-story-of-beatrice-vio-the-teenage-fencing-sensation-at-the-paralympics/ |title=The story of Beatrice Vio: the teenage fencing sensation at the Paralympics |publisher=The Olympic Channel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919020730/https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/the-story-of-beatrice-vio-the-teenage-fencing-sensation-at-the-paralympics/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |df=}}</ref> Under the coaching of Federica Berton and Alice Esposito, she took part in her first wheelchair fencing competition in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/beatrice-vio |title=Beatrice Vio |work=Paralympic.org |date=31 August 2013}}</ref>
The 2012 Summer Paralympics were too early in her career for her to take part, but she was chosen as 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.<ref name="RS">{{cite web |url=http://www.redattoresociale.it/Notiziario/Articolo/403599/Paralimpiadi-Bebe-Vio-a-Londra-a-furor-di-popolo-Niente-gare-ma-il-futuro-e-suo |title=Paralimpiadi. Bebe Vio, a Londra a furor di popolo. Niente gare, ma il futuro è suo |date=3 August 2012 |publisher=Redattore Sociale |language=Italian}}</ref> In 2013, she won her first World Cup in Montreal after she defeated Olympic silver medalist Gyöngyi Dani. For this performance she was named paralympic athlete of the month by the International Paralympic Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713090147/https://www.paralympic.org/athlete-month/bebe-vio-athlete-month-may-2013 |title=Beatrice Vio - Athlete of the Month May 2013 |work=Paralympic.org |date=May 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Beatrice Vio with Ursula von der Leyen at the State of the EU 2021 debate in Strasbourg.jpg|thumb|Vio at the State of the European Union with Ursula von der Leyen in September 2021]] In the early 2013–14 season, she paused to focus on her studies, but she returned in June and won both the individual and team competition at the European Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Scherma-agli-Europei-Italia-ha-il-sorriso-di-Beatrice-Vio-ada9ddc9-509c-4ccc-9f3a-c89f2d419fd5.html |title=Scherma, agli Europei l'Italia ha il sorriso di Beatrice Vio |agency=Rai News |date=10 June 2014 |language=Italian}}</ref> At the end of the year, the Italian Paralympics Committee awarded her the distinction of "Italian Paralympic Athlete of the Year", a title shared with Oxana Corso.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013140107/http://www.federscherma.it/news/26012-scherma-paralimpica-beatrice-vio-premiata-con-l-italian-paralympic-award-2014 |title=Beatrice Vio premiata con l'Italian Paralympic Award 2014 |publisher=Italian Fencing Federation |date=9 October 2014 |language=Italian}}</ref> In 2015, she became world champion after she defeated Dani 15–4 in the final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926054435/http://www.unita.tv/interviste/niente-e-impossibile-bebe-vio-loro-paralimpico-del-fioretto-ci-racconta-come-fare-la-differenza/ |title=Niente è impossibile. Bebe Vio, l'oro paralimpico del fioretto ci racconta "come fare la differenza" |first=Maddalena |last=Carlino |agency=L'Unità TV |date=22 September 2015 |language=Italian}}</ref> She was named an ambassador for the Milan Expo 2015<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sociale.corriere.it/la-campionessa-di-scherma-beatrice-vio-sara-ambassador-di-expo-milano-2015/ |title=La campionessa di scherma Beatrice Vio sarà Ambassador di Expo Milano 2015 |first=Marina |last=Sogliani |newspaper=Il Corriere della sera |date=9 April 2015 |language=Italian}}</ref> and she published her autobiography, {{lang|it|Mi hanno regalato un sogno}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/altre-notizie/unicusano/2015/12/14-6754495/beatrice_bebe_vio_mi_hanno_regalato_un_sogno_/?cookieAccept |title=Beatrice "Bebe" Vio: "Mi hanno regalato un sogno" |newspaper=Il Corriere dello Sport |date=14 December 2015 |language=Italian}}</ref>
In the 2015–16 season, she received the Edoardo Mangiarotti award from the Italian Olympic Committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport-Vari/25-02-2016/premio-mangiarotti-assegnato-imbattibile-vio-140787059448.shtml |title=Il premio "Mangiarotti" assegnato all'imbattibile Vio |author=Silvia Galimberti |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=25 February 2016 |language=Italian}}</ref> She won her second European title in Casale Monferrato, prevailing over Russian Irina Mishurova.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paralimpici.gazzetta.it/2016/05/18/non-si-ferma-mai-oro-europeo-2016-per-bebe-vio/ |title=Non si ferma mai. Oro europeo 2016 per Bebe Vio |author=Claudio Arrigoni |newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=18 May 2016 |language=Italian}}</ref> In July she lost in the final of the Warsaw World Cup to Russian Viktoria Boykova, which ended her streak of 11 consecutive victories in World Cup events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pianetascherma.com/2016/07/11/varsavia-argento-per-bebe-si-interrompe-la-striscia-vicente/ |title=Varsavia: argento per Bebe, si interrompe la striscia vicente |work=Pianeta Scherma |first=Alessandro |last=Gennari |date=11 July 2016 |language=Italian}}</ref> She however qualified to the 2016 Summer Paralympics as the top-ranked fencer in her category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.federscherma.it/top-news/27524-giochi-paralimpici-rio2016-ecco-la-delegazione-azzurra-sette-italiani-in-pedana-dal-12-al-16-settembre |title=Federscherma - Giochi Paralimpici Rio2016 - Ecco la delegazione azzurra: sette Italiani in pedana dal 12 al 16 settembre |publisher=Italian Fencing Federation |date=18 July 2016 |language=Italian}}</ref> In Rio she came out of the pool stage undefeated, winning her five pool bouts on 5–0. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Poland's Marta Makowska on 15–6, then overcame defending Paralympic champion, China's Fang Yao, on 15–1. On 14 September, in the final, she met China's Jingjing Zhou. After she took an early lead, the bout was interrupted when the tip of her opponent's foil went accidentally into her mask. After ice was applied, she went on to win 15–7, earning Paralympic gold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/victory-vio-wheelchair-fencing-foil-event |title=Victory for Vio in wheelchair fencing foil event |website=International Paralympic Committee |date=14 September 2016 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019115217/https://www.paralympic.org/news/victory-vio-wheelchair-fencing-foil-event |archive-date=19 October 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=WhyV />
She received the ''America Award'' of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2018. On 19 September 2018, after beating Russian opponent Irina Misurova, Vio was crowned European champion for the third time.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} She later participated in the 2020 Summer Paralympics, held the following year in Tokyo. On 28 August 2021, after defeating Zhou Jingjing a second time, she won another gold medal in the wheelchair fencing foil individual event.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/bebe-vio-makes-history-second-paralympic-gold-medal-wheelchair-fencing |title=Bebe Vio makes history with second Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair fencing |website=International Paralympic Committee |date=28 August 2021 |language=en,es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304091024/https://www.paralympic.org/news/bebe-vio-makes-history-second-paralympic-gold-medal-wheelchair-fencing |archive-date=4 March 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref> In 2020, she starred in the documentary film ''Rising Phoenix''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Horst |first=Carole |date=25 August 2020 |title=Netflix’s ‘Rising Phoenix’ Celebrates Top Paralympic Athletes |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/spotlight/netflix-rising-phoenix-paralympics-1234748744/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008225747/https://variety.com/2020/film/spotlight/netflix-rising-phoenix-paralympics-1234748744/ |archive-date=8 October 2022 |access-date=21 July 2024 |magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |language=en}}</ref>
==Advocacy== As a result of her illness and her recovery, Vio has become "a fierce campaigner for early vaccination".<ref name=WhyV />
==Bibliography== * {{lang|it|Mi hanno regalato un sogno}}, English translation: ''They gifted me a dream'' (2015, Rizzoli Libri, Milan; {{ISBN|978-88-586-7878-7}}) * {{lang|it|Se sembra impossibile allora si può fare}}, English translation: ''If it seems impossible then it can be done'' (2017, Rizzoli Libri, Milan; {{ISBN|978-88-17-09713-0}})
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|url=https://www.bebevio.com/?lang=en}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922233756/https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/beatrice-vio |title=Beatrice Vio at Rio2016.com |date=22 September 2016}} * {{IPC profile|beatrice-vio|Beatrice Vio}} * {{CIP profile|vio-beatrice-maria|Beatrice Maria Vio}} * {{CONI honored athlete|140937|Beatrice Maria Vio}} * [https://federscherma.it/atleta/beatrice-vio/ Beatrice Vio Grandis] at the ''Federazione Italiana Scherma'' {{in lang|it}}
{{Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vio, Beatrice}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Venice Category:Paralympic wheelchair fencers for Italy Category:Paralympic gold medalists for Italy Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Italy Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Italy Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics Category:Paralympic medalists in wheelchair fencing Category:Wheelchair fencers at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Category:Wheelchair fencers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Wheelchair fencers at the 2024 Summer Paralympics Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners Category:21st-century Italian sportswomen Category:Vaccination advocates Category:Italian female fencers