Gaia’s story
Gaia was born with a malformation in both upper limbs on 07 July 2004 in Trento, where she lives with her family.
She is a cheerful child who is always willing to make new friends and experiences and she is also stubborn: this is the main reason why she is independent and able to face daily challenges.
Gaia took her first swimming course when she was only four months old and it was love at first immersion!
In fact, swimming had been recommended by the children’s physiotherapist to prevent back problems. This sport was first recommended but now a natural choice as Gaia loves water. She practiced swimming until the age of eleven but then had to stop due to health problems.
In addition to swimming, Gaia has always loved animals and started riding horses when she was two and a half years old.
Initially, she rode occasionally in the various saddle sessions during village festivals. Then, at the age of six, she started riding regularly in English riding. His real passion, however, remains show jumping, where she has always ridden the net course in competitions, that is without penalties. His goal is to win the Paralympics in this discipline!
Her fantastic horse Hercules came into her life a year ago: they chose each other because they understand each other instantly! He has a sweet tooth for biscuits and after lessons, if she doesn’t give him any, he goes and looks for them in his trunk!
Gaia is now part of the art4sport team: the art4sport ONLUS Association will help Gaia achieve her goals, as she herself says: “By making me have fun, meet new friends and improve myself”. Thanks to art4sport she has also learnt how to ski, a sport she continues to practice in winter. She has a lot of fun going downhill!
Gaia’s sports achievements
2022
3rd Paris Cup in Gardolo (TN) – Italy (January 2022):
- 100 mt breaststroke: time of 01.51.27 beating the Italian junior class S8 record
- 50 mt breaststroke: time of 50.98 beating the absolute Italian record and consequently also the junior S8 class record
Italian Absolute Winter Championships + Para Swimming World Series in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) – Italy (March 2022):
- 100 m breaststroke: 1st place in the Italian championships plus Italian junior record
- 100 m freestyle: 1st place in the Italian championships plus Italian junior record, 7th place in world ranking
- 400 m freestyle: 2nd place in the Italian championships, 8th place in world ranking
- 100 m backstroke: 12th place plus Italian junior record
- 50 m freestyle: Italian junior record, 6th place in world ranking
Italian Junior Championships in Monza (April 2022):
- 100 mt. freestyle: 1st place plus Italian junior record
- 100 m breaststroke: 1st place plus Italian junior record
Participated in the European Para Youth Games 2022 in Pajulahti – Finland (June/July 2022)
Italian Absolute Championships in Naples – Italy (July 2022):
- 100 m breaststroke cat. S8: gold medal
- 100 m freestyle cat. S8: silver medal
- 100 m backstroke cat. S8: silver medal
2021
‘Tokyo Cup’ competition in Trento (March the 28th 2021)
- 50 mt freestyle: 0:36.81
- 100 mt freestyle: 1:22.94
- 200 mt freestyle: 3:06.99
- 100 mt backstroke: 1:32.96
Italian Paralympic Swimming Youth Championships in Verona (June 2021):
- 100 mt freestyle class S8 Juniores category: 1° place
- 50 mt freestyle class S8 Juniores category: 1° place
- Juniores Italian Record 50 mt freestyle category S8
Absolute Italian Championships in Naples (July 2021):
- 50 mt freestyle class S8 Juniores category: silver with category italian record
- 100 mt backstroke class S8 Juniores category: silver with category italian record (1:32,84) and absolute bronze
- 100 mt freestyle class S8 Juniores category: silver with category italian record (1:21,45) and absolute silver
“Nuota con noi” Trophy in Lodi (November 2021):
3 Italian category records:
- 100 mt backstroke (1:32,46)
- 50 mt freestyle (0:35,72)
- 100 mt freestyle (1:20,35)
1st Paris Cup in Trento (November 2021):
2 Italian category records:
- 200 mt freestyle (2:55,10)
- 50 mt freestyle (0:35,64)
Paralympic Absolute Italian Swimming Championships in Riccione (November 2021):
- 50 mt backstroke: 1st in the S8 category with a time of 00:41,13 and new Juniores S8 record, 1st in the Open classification (from S7 to S13 category)
- 100 mt backstroke: 1st overall in category S8 with a time of 01:33.55 and 2nd overall in the Open classification (from category S7 to category S10)
- 100 mt freestyle: 2nd overall in category S8 with a time of 01:20.15 and 3rd overall in the Open classification (from category S7 to category S10), thus setting the Junior Italian record.
2nd Paris Cup in Gardolo (TN) – (December 2021):
- 100 mt backstroke: time of 01.30.76 with Italian Junior record category S8
- 50 mt freestyle: time of 35.59 with Italian record Juniores category S8
- 400 mt freestyle: time of 06.11,15 with Italian new Junior record
- 50 mt backstroke: time of 40.77 with Italian new record Juniores
2019
Gaia has joined the Aquilae Tridentum Quidditch team from Trento (September 2019).
2018
- Race with penalty-free course (net) in Val di Bozze in Vipiteno (May 2018)
- Two dressage competitions (E100 and E200) in which she placed sixth and ninth. Received compliments from the judges and permission to pursue the higher license (September 2018)
2017
- First place at the provincial swimming championships
- Third place at the provincial dressage event (horse riding)
2016
- First place at provincial swimming championships
2014/2015
She obtained his first license to start riding competitions
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