Giulia Bellandi

Started: She began playing non-Para volleyball at age 10. She took up sitting volleyball at age 26. (volleynews.it, 03 Sep 2019; comitatoparalimpico.it, 29 May 2019) Reason: She played non-Para volleyball growing up. "After the accident, my coach often called me to convince me to play sitting volleyball. I tried and I had fun immediately. The sport introduced me to a new world with other people that had the same conditions and the same difficulties. It opened my mind, and at the same time made me feel more confident." (volleynews.it, 03 Sep 2019; comitatoparalimpico.it, 29 May 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (worldparavolley.org, 12 Oct 2023) Awards: She was named Best Setter at the 2023 European Championships in Caorle, Italy. (paravolley.eu, 15 Oct 2023) Additional Info: FUTURE PLANS She wants to stay involved in the sport after retiring. "I am very ambitious and I have set myself important objectives both for the sport and workplace, even if to date it has been difficult to combine the two activities. Therefore, one day I would like to work in the sports federation and, when I stop playing, become the national team manager." (volleynews.it, 03 Sep 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION In 2017 she graduated with a master's degree in finance from the University of Pisa in Italy. (Instagram profile, 01 Jan 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Aug 2018)