Endless Bebe Vio, also on the podium in Paris

In the sumptuous Grand Palais there was even Jovanotti cheering her on. She does not disappoint, and for the third time in a row she stands on the podium of the Paralympics: endless Bebe Vio, bronze in the five-ring event underway in Paris, after the golds of Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. It is the fifth medal at the Games for the fencer from Veneto, who, in addition to the prestigious individual titles, also boasts a silver and a bronze in the team event.

In the Ville Lumiere, she made a mistake in the semifinals of the foil category B, did not take her measurements well, and was outclassed 15-9 by China's Xiao, but then redeemed herself as only great champions know how to do and in the repechage she beat China's Su Kang 15-7 and then in the bronze medal final she liquidated South Korea's Eun Hye Cho 15-2, going on to take yet another medal in a career without end. Three Olympics always on the podium is a result that makes Vio herself rejoice, she who is used to the spotlight intended for grown-ups, called in 2016 by then US President Barack Obama to dinner at the White House.

Bebe had already tasted the atmosphere of Paris in the contested opening ceremony of the Olympics along the Seine: a parade-cameo for the Italian champion and non-athlete on 26 July last year had served as an appetiser for her. Bebe has never lost a final since 2014: in between the two Paralympic golds there are four World Championships and three European Championships, with the foilist always leading the way. And that is also why the bronze medal in Paris does not feel like a defeat for the Italian, on the contrary: 'I am so happy, it is an extraordinary day. It's not the gold that everyone expected but I'm happy, it's not all given away, it's beautiful,' said the 1997 champion, also happy with the warmth she feels around her every time. Her family first of all, her friends and the fans with whom she embraced in a big hug. "It is a wonderful medal, she deserved the final more, she was more ready, with physique, with the head and with everything. I was there, but not as well as her. We give everything to win, some people make it and some don't. If it wasn't for all the guys, the trainers, my friends, my family, they were all there. They were so ready to cheer me up and tell me not to give up, because it wasn't over anyway. There were still two more matches to get the bronze, so it's a medal won, it's a great thing. You should never apologise for a medal, absolutely. How difficult was it to regain concentration? You know, they give you time to cry, but then they say OK, now you've broken down, get yourself together and go and shoot. And I did it. And we all made it. And tomorrow we'll make it again, tomorrow we have to make it, at this point it's OK for the Chinese to win once, but not twice. So tomorrow we have China again in the team semifinals and we're going for it."

The cheering at the Grand Palais was that of great occasions: "If you look at this stadium, these people, the grandstands packed, the people fired up for Paralympic sport, this shows that culture, communication have led to so much for our sport. It is magnificent, it is beautiful, I hope that in all countries there will be this crowd of people ready to cheer for Paralympic sport, because it is sport, because it is beautiful". And it's not over yet because Vio is also aiming for the team competition: 'Keep your fingers crossed for me because I can't,' she concludes in her own way.