Ambra Sabatini

Started: She took up Para athletics in 2020. "I started practising athletics when I was 12 years old. I stopped playing volleyball after six years because I preferred to practise a sport outdoors and I also loved the fact that the result depends just on you in athletics. After the accident [in 2019], I already knew what to do next: Para athletics." (paralympic.org, 05 May 2022, 15 Apr 2021) Reason: She was involved in athletics before her accident. Watching videos of Para athletes on YouTube inspired her to continue with the sport after her amputation. "Together with my dad, they [Para athletes] motivated me. Athletics was part of my life before the accident. Stopping running was out of the question. I knew it could be done. The desire was there immediately. I had a few moments of despondency but life is too good to live with resignation." (corriere.it, 15 Mar 2021; eurosport.it, 15 Feb 2021) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (sport.quotidiano.net, 19 Jan 2024) Awards: She and cyclist Luca Mazzone were named as Italy's flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (menshealth.com, 21 Aug 2024) She was named Female Para Athlete of the Year at the 2023 Gazzetta Sports Awards, which are organised by the Italian sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport. (La7 Attualita YouTube channel, 19 Dec 2023) She was presented with the 2021 Diamond of Fame award for Para Athlete of the Year in Italy. (comitatoparalimpico.it, 25 Jan 2022) In 2021 she received the Collare d'Oro al Merito Sportivo [Golden Collar for Sporting Merit] in Italy. (Instagram profile, 21 Dec 2021) Additional Info: DOCUMENTARY A documentary about her life and her preparation for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris entered production in early 2024. It is called 'Ambra, when running changes everything'. (gazzetta.it, 09 Jan 2024; sport.quotidiano.net, 19 Jan 2024)

Sporting Relatives: Her twin brother Lorenzo Sabatini has played football for the Italian U16 national team. (theowlpost.it, 23 Jun 2023; transfermarkt.com, 01 Jul 2022)