Fencer Bebe Vio and swimmer Federico
Morlacchi led the Italian team into Tokyo's Olympic Stadium
Tuesday as Italy's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the
Tokyo Paralympics.
For the first time this year, Italy had a 'double flag-bearer'
at the Olympics and the Paralympics, a move that was in line
with the IOC's recommendations on gender equality.
Vio, 24, is a three-time world champion and the 2016 Paralympic
champion in the wheelchair fencing foil B category.
Doctors were able to save her life but had to amputate all four
limbs after she got meningitis B in 2008.
Morlacchi, 27, has won seven Paralympic medals, including gold
in the 200 m individual medley SM9 event at the 2016 Rio Games.
Cyclist Elia Viviani and shooter Jessica Rossi were Italy's
flag-bearers at the recent Tokyo Olympics, where Italy came away
with a record haul of 40 medals including 10 golds, 10 silvers
and 20 bronzes.
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