Luca Mazzone and Ambra Sabatini: who are the standard-bearers of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Luca Mazzone participated in three editions of the Paralympic Games as a swimmer – Sydney 2000, in which he won two silver medals, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – before dedicating himself to cycling. At the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games he competes in the specialty ofhandbikewinning two golds and a silver in Brazil and a gold and two silvers in Japan.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named Italy’s flag bearer on the most important stage: the Paralympic Games,” said Mazzone.
“A recognition that means a lot. I will do my best to be an example for many girls and boys, to make them understand that you can always start playing sports and that practicing a sporting discipline allows us to have a fuller life full of opportunities.”
Ambra Sabatini certainly has fewer participations in the Paralympic Games but a future that gives hope to the Italian national team. After the accident that caused the amputation of her left leg, she first approached swimming, then cycling and finally athletics. Her international debut dates back to 2021 and in the same year he participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Precisely in Japan he wins thegold in the 100m race in the T63 category scoring the new world record of 14:11 seconds (record further improved in 2023), sharing the podium with two teammates, Martina Caironi And Monica Counterfeit in second and third place respectively.
“I will be Italy’s flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Games: just saying it out loud makes my heart beat very fast,” said Sabatini.
“It’s a dream that I’ve always had in my drawer, a dream that every athlete has when they start competing, and being able to do it this year is a further source of pride.”
“Great good luck to my Olympic colleagues and to my fellow standard-bearer Luca Mazzone.”
As already happened for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the CIP chose a man and a woman as standard bearers.
For the Japanese Games, the honor fell to Bebe Viofencer winner of four Paralympic medals including two golds, one in Rio 2016 and one in Tokyo 2020, paired with Federico Morlacchiswimmer, Paralympic champion in the 200m medley SM9 in Rio 2016 and winner of three silvers in Brazil and three bronzes at the London 2012 Games.
The last Italian standard bearers at the Paralympic Games to represent cycling and athletics as in 2024 were Alex Zanardi in the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Games e Martina Caironi in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Games, respectively.
