Italy's Bebe Vio seeks second gold in wheelchair fencing

Italian Bebe Vio returns to the Paralympic Games wheelchair fencing competition in Tokyo ready to defend her gold in the women’s foil category B event at Rio 2016. She astonished the world by winning five years ago, when she was only 19.

‘I’m not just thinking about the individual competition, I’m also thinking about the team because I love them so much and want to see them so happy. When you achieve that all together, it’s something much greater than just for you’, said Vio.

All eyes will also be on China's Jing Rong, a tough name to beat: she has four Paralympic gold medals, three obtained in 2016, in the épée and foil team competition and individual foil category A - event in which she also comes as world champion.

Great Britain’s Dimitri Coutya has become one of the top fencers across two different disciplines: epee and foil. While his debut in Rio 2016 didn't see him come away with a medal, losing in the epee quarterfinals, he claimed two world titles the following year.

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the sport will take place from 25-29 August 2021 at Makuhari Messe, located in Chiba Prefecture. Sixteen gold medals will be awarded across eight men's and women's events including two team events. There will be three weapons used: épée, foil and sabre. For the team events, they will only compete in épée and foil.

The competition begins this Wednesday, August 25^th, with the men's and women's individual sabre events.