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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Further personal information
Residence
Italy
Occupation
Office Worker
Languages
English, Italian
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport in 2006 in Varese, Italy.
Why this sport?
He had previously played football and wanted to get involved in another team sport following his accident. He fell in love with Para ice hockey after watching the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. "I wanted to find new friends."
Club / Team
Polha Varese: Italy
Name of coach
Massimo Da Rin [national], ITA
Training Regime
He trains for up to nine hours per week.
Preferred position / style / stance / technique
Defence
International debut
Year
2010
Competing for
Italy
Tournament
Paralympic Games
Location
Vancouver, BC, CAN
General interest
Nicknames
Opy (hockeyarmatabrancaleone.it, 04 Apr 2007)
Hobbies
Travelling, skiing, cooking. (Athlete, 03 Mar 2022)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold at the 2011 European Championships in Solleftea, Sweden. (Athlete, 03 Mar 2022; IPC, 2011)
Most influential person in career
Italian Para ice hockey players Bruno Balossetti and Ambrogio Magistrelli. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018, 03 Mar 2022
Hero / Idol
Italian Para ice hockey player Andrea Chiarotti. (Athlete, 03 Mar 2022)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Go on, even with one leg." (comitatoparalimpico.it, 08 Feb 2018)
Awards and honours
He was given a Special Award at the 2018 Varese Sports Awards in Italy. (varesesport.com, 10 May 2018)
Impairment
He collided with a car while riding a moped at age 20. The accident resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018; gazzetta.it, 27 Oct 2016)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed | Group B | 1 | ||
| Mixed | Group B | 3 | ||
| Mixed | Group B | 6 | ||
| Mixed | Classification 5-8 | 201 | ||
| Mixed | Classification 7-8 | 102 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed | Group B | 2014-03-08 | 1 | |
| Mixed | Group B | 2014-03-09 | 4 | |
| Mixed | Group B | 2014-03-11 | 5 | |
| Mixed | Group B - Standings | 2014-03-11 | 3 | |
| Mixed | Classification 5-6 | 2014-03-12 | 201 | |
| Mixed | Classification 5-8 | 2014-03-14 | 101 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Tournament | Group A | 2018-03-10 | 1 | |
| Mixed Tournament | Group A | 2018-03-11 | 3 | |
| Mixed Tournament | Group A | 2018-03-12 | 5 | |
| Mixed Tournament | Group A - Standings | 2018-03-13 | 2 | |
| Mixed Tournament | Semifinal | 2018-03-15 | 2 | |
| Mixed Tournament | Bronze Medal Match | 2018-03-17 | 1 |