Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
F55
Further personal information
Occupation
Athlete, Councillor
Languages
Italian
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up shot put in 1986, and began Para athletics in 1996 in Casale Monferrato, Italy.
Why this sport?
"I picked up the sport when I was a school child. I started with the shot put and I never stopped doing it. After my car accident and two years of suffering, throwing has been a lifeline to start my new life in a wheelchair."
International debut
Year
1998
Competing for
Italy
Tournament
World Championships
Location
Birmingham, ENG
General interest
Nicknames
Big Mama [given to her by her teammates on the national team]. (Athlete, 12 Aug 2014)
Hero / Idol
Italian footballer Alessandro Del Piero. (IPC, 06 Nov 2009)
Injuries
She broke the tibia and fibula in her leg at the 2013 Italian National Championship in Grosseto. (Athlete, 12 Aug 2014)
She sustained a series of injuries which ruled her out of the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. (silvanabaj.it, 29 Aug 2009)
She sustained a series of injuries which ruled her out of the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. (silvanabaj.it, 29 Aug 2009)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs
She has a tattoo of a turtle for good fortune. (abilitychannel.tv, 02 Apr 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Power is nothing without control." (Athlete, 12 Aug 2014)
Awards and honours
She was chosen as a torch bearer for the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. (silvanabaj.it, 29 Aug 2009)
Impairment
She was involved in a car accident in 1992, which resulted in paraplegia. (silvanabaj.it, 29 Aug 2009; Athlete, 12 Aug 2014)
Other information
OCCUPATION
She works as a local councillor for sport in San Salvatore Monferrato, Italy. (ilgiunco.net, 22 Feb 2016; Facebook page, 27 Apr 2020)
HANDCYCLING
In 2019 she took up handcycling as an alternate sport to keep herself fit. As part of her training, she completed a 150 kilometre ride during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Italy. "When I heard about the journey to Santiago de Compostela, I imagined how I could do it in one day. I found the solution and decided to combine pilgrimage with sports. Not what I've always done, at a competitive level, but different and therefore a greater challenge." (invisibili.corriere.it, 22 May 2019; radiogold.it, 02 Apr 2019)
She works as a local councillor for sport in San Salvatore Monferrato, Italy. (ilgiunco.net, 22 Feb 2016; Facebook page, 27 Apr 2020)
HANDCYCLING
In 2019 she took up handcycling as an alternate sport to keep herself fit. As part of her training, she completed a 150 kilometre ride during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Italy. "When I heard about the journey to Santiago de Compostela, I imagined how I could do it in one day. I found the solution and decided to combine pilgrimage with sports. Not what I've always done, at a competitive level, but different and therefore a greater challenge." (invisibili.corriere.it, 22 May 2019; radiogold.it, 02 Apr 2019)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Shot Put F55 | Final Round | 5 | ||
Women's Discus Throw F55 | Final Round | 6 | ||
Women's Javelin F55 | Final Round | 9999 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Shot Put F55 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
Women's Discus Throw F54-56 | Final Round | 11 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Shot Put F54/55 | Final Round | 10 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's Shot Put F55 | Final 1 | 2015-10-25 | 7 | |
Women's Discus Throw F55 | Final 1 | 2015-10-28 | 13 | |
Women's Javelin F56 | Final 1 | 2015-10-29 | 12 |