Bebe Vio Advances to Paralympic Bronze Match

Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio, a prominent Italian wheelchair fencer, faced an unexpected defeat in the semi-finals of the women's foil category B at the Paralympics, losing 15-9 to China's Xiao Rong. Despite a strong start in the quarter-finals where she triumphed 15-2 against her opponent, Vio struggled to find her rhythm during the semi-final, which was interrupted by technical issues. This loss means Vio will now compete for a bronze medal, needing to win a repechage match against Kang Su from China. Vio, who has won multiple medals in previous Paralympic Games, is competing in her third Paralympics and is a well-known figure in parasport. She previously won gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and her journey has been marked by resilience after undergoing amputations due to meningitis. Vio is set to continue her campaign in the team events following her individual challenges.