Simone BarlaamGetty Images
Simone Barlaam, Italian swimmer
“When I was really young, my leg was very fragile. The water was the only place where I could do any physical activity without it hurting. I felt goofy when I walked on the ground, but on the water, I felt light – I felt free. In the water, it’s just me and my body. That’s a feeling that I always liked.
From there, everything moved quite naturally. I was inspired by older athletes who were preparing for the Paralympics, and I was amazed by people with disabilities doing such amazing things, but it was never my aim to become an athlete, and I never expected to be one of them in the future. But I began training more, and the potential that my coaches saw in me was becoming more and more clear to me, as well. My times were improving. So I slowly understood that this could be something more serious.
I’m from the countryside just outside of Milan, a place called Cassinetta di Lugagnano . It’s very small and quiet – there’s a little river, a lot of green, some old villas. But I know Paris quite well because it’s kind of where I grew up – I had a lot of surgeries there as a kid. My medical journey was being followed by a French doctor, who heard that my leg might have to be amputated because of an infection from another surgery. They brought me to Paris and saved my leg, so I feel quite close to the city and to the French people, too.”
Petrucio FerreiraGetty Images
Petrucio Ferreira, Brazilian sprinter
“Since I was a child, I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. At first, it was to become a football player, until I had the great opportunity to be part of the Paralympics. I first started in 2013, and it became a passion. I love training, competing, representing my country and supporting people with disabilities.
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