Vincenzo Boni

Started: He began swimming at age six in Naples, Italy. He took up Para swimming competitively in 2014 in Bari, Italy. (Athlete, 09 Sep 2019, 03 Dec 2017, 12 Jul 2015) Reason: He took up the sport as a form of therapy. He was also inspired by the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. "Soon the water became more and more my element and swimming was my true passion." (Athlete, 09 Sep 2019) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (telethon.it, 05 Feb 2024; napoli.corriere.it, 12 Aug 2023) Awards: In 2019 he was the Italian flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the world championships in London, England. (nuoto.com, 08 Feb 2020) In 2018 he received the 'Guido Scocozza' National Solidarity Award in Italy. (Telecolore YouTube channel, 10 Apr 2018) He was named the 2017 Male Para Athlete of the Year by Swimming World magazine. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 03 Jan 2018) He was named the 2015 Para Swimmer of the Year by the Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI]. (campania.coni.it, 01 Jan 2016) Additional Info: RETIREMENT PLANS He considered quitting the sport after the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, in part due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "At that time [during the pandemic] my head was burning. I had difficulty starting again. Also because I was in the midst of preparation and in March [2020] they told me that everything was postponed. I would get into the water and I couldn't train with the same intensity. I finished fifth [in S3 50m backstroke and S3 200m freestyle at the 2020 Games] and maybe I was worth it and I thought about quitting." He decided to continue in Para swimming, but he says that the 2024 Games in Paris will be his final Paralympic appearance. "Now it's hard [speaking in 2023]. It's more of a mental difficulty than a physical one. I will abandon sport, but I am sure that sport will not abandon me. I won't be a coach though, too much stress. I will continue with my role as an ambassador for Paralympic sport, something I am proud of." (napoli.corriere.it, 12 Aug 2023) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as an ambassador for Telethon, a non-profit organisation recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research that helps people affected by rare diseases. In 2018 he featured in a documentary film titled 'Phylum', which won an award at the Benevento Film and Television Festival in Italy. (Instagram profile, 22 May 2022; Facebook profile, 19 May 2022; nuoto.com, 08 Feb 2020; questionedistile.gazzetta.it, 11 Mar 2018; swim4lifemagazine.it, 09 Mar 2018) EDUCATION He completed his bachelor's degree in digital cultures and communication in December 2018, with a thesis titled 'Sport and disability, factors of inclusion and exclusion in the sports practice'. "Reconciling sport with study was not easy. Studying is as important as sport, and it gave me a lot." (vincenzoboni.it, 19 Mar 2019) OCCUPATION In 2021 he began working as an application development analyst at an information technology services and consulting company in Naples, Italy. (Accenture in Italia Facebook page, 23 May 2022; accenture.com, 28 Jan 2022)