The Inspiring Story of an Armless Gold Medalist

Beatrice Vio cultivated a passion for fencing when she was five years old. At 11, she contracted severe meningitis. In the hospital, the doctors gave her an unimaginable choice: Keep her limbs and risk death, or amputate all four to ensure survival. She chose life. Now, Vio is a Paralympic champion and the only fencer in the world who competes without arms or legs.
"Beatrice" was directed by Lorena Alvarado. It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.
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[@jank.906]

I'm so glad that the paralympics exist. All the stories behind the athletes are so unique and inspiring

[@stepparentingmadeeasy]

She’s already a double medalist. She’s so young. And soooo strong. She can have so many more. A true modern hero. If people want to know what our mental image is, hear her out.

[@rijuchaudhuri]

And 3 years later, today, she wins her 2nd Olympic Gold! 🥇 What an inspiration! 🔥

[@danielefabbro822]

2 years after, she won again the gold. 🥲👍

[@babyjeff]

This was not only a great documentary with skilled cinematography, but she was inspiring, and her determination is amazing. Great job!

[@manu_toxxic]

Simply great! I’m surrounded by people with two arms and two legs who say “boooring” to everybody and everything and criticise the entire human kind. These people instead are great and hope you take example from them. Love you Beatrice, I’ll bring my daughter to the next Paralympic to let her understand what amazing things can humans do what the real life is.

[@ba8191]

are you in tokyo?

[@polyphonium]

I spent about 20 years teaching fencing fundamentals. Beatrice's technique/form is excellent!

[@user-zr6ri2xi3p]

This is so inspiring and heart-touching. These days i feel that every smallest thing in my life is going wrong and I lost faith in everything thing even my self. However, this video warmed my heart and taught me something so deep. Thanks I came to here be a chance, and I really needed it

[@gnarghhfps3239]

Shes definitely a main character.....so awesome

[@dianagambacortarosati6680]

What an inspiration!!

[@francescabarbolini1416]

Grande Bebe💖

[@cesarm4040]

This is beautiful, keep being strong and performing well. You are amazing and we are all inspired by your determination and excellence in fencing.

[@GiovanniRossiGionreds]

Great video! well done!

[@ArundoTrad]

Fantastic inspirational film.

[@dianagambacortarosati6680]

Truly remarkable...

[@victormoor5511]

Great performance! An excellent sport spirit!

[@jenzmarcello4064]

Amazing and inspiring😍

[@meryberti8529]

Bebe Beatrice...💕💕💕

[@mariaeugeniamadrigalcanul4714]

She is so great

[@maurotropeano]

Inspiring!!!

[@littleblueclovers]

That's amazing. I admire her determination. I give up on things too easily so she is a big role model for me :)

[@anandpatel1074]

She only had determination because she was that motivated to be good at fencing. What's so amazing? If I wanted to be a millionaire as bad as she wanted to be an Olympic athlete, I'd be rich by now. It's just different priorities

[@littleblueclovers]

Anand Patel that's the thing though. I'm sure if I put in the effort I'd be able to something like that too, but in reality I'm just lying on my sofa watching KZbin videos. So, I'm impressed with her drive to keep working at her goals.

[@babyjeff]

Also, she not only took the time and had perseverance to get that far, she also had a setback from the rest.

[@RafaelKamimura]

thu love

[@IvanEngler]

wow.

[@Sarakate601]

Whoever chose to make the subtitles yellow got it wrong

[@Deathss81]

Why for me, on the other hand, was only a small virus enough to fall and lose all my strength and lose the desire to fight and face the world around me? Bebe is still there to tell me how to win in life, but I can't, it's too hard. In those last two years I lost the desire to smile, laugh and win. If Beatrice could help me understand where I'm wrong....

[@khanshab23655]

If you ever feel useless with your full body parts watch Paralympic

[@user-yq7tn6cc4o]

Russian man give respect Bebe Vio

[@artururartus8303]

Astvats tur indz surp hoqi hrashk gortsem

[@anandpatel1074]

Yet another disabled person achieves some sort of honor and we praise them for it and say how amazing they are

[@kaileewalden3586]

+Anand Patel You say it as if something's wrong with that. It's dumb and patronizing to honor someone simply because they're disabled, but that doesn't mean that they also can't earn that award through real hard work and perseverance.

[@samsignorelli]

You try fencing at chair distance -- even with arms -- and tell me how it goes. Fencers can see what she has to overcome competitively right off the bat. 1) Because you can't wear prosthetics in the chair (an exception was made for her so she could wield her foil)m she has no means of pulling her body back other than her stomach muscles, and given the close distance, the timing on that is more than a bit important. 2) She has no wrist with which to angulate her weapon to hit target...another important point when you get close. Able-bodied fencers don't get that close without angulating their weapons, which she can't do. 3) She's out there in international competition....when was the last world championship or paralympic medal YOU won? I've given sabre lessons at chair distance....I have a LOT of respects for the wheelie fencing community. Perhaps you need to not dismiss Ms. Vio's accomplishments until you can match them.

[@lamaalkahtani5750]

You’re tone is very patronizing, try walking a day in her shoes, get up everyday live life through her body and compete in a the olympics manage to win a gold medal in FENCING with no arms!!! I don’t think you can comprehend the level of accuracy and vigilance involved. Well done Bebe 💕💕 Grande Bebe