Paris 2024: Martina Caironi’s words of wisdom

Italy’s Para athletics icon talks medals, memories and milestones ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games 06 Mar 2024

Para sprinter Martina Caironi laughing with the Italian flag wrapped round her

Two-time Paralympic 100m champion Martina Caironi will compete at her fourth Games at Paris 2024

ⒸAlex Pantling/Getty Images

By Amp Media | For the IPC

Italian superstar Martina Caironi has won two gold medals and three silver medals since making her Paralympic debut at London 2012. With less than 200 days to go until Paris 2024, Caironi reflected on her journey in Para athletics and shared her expectations for her fourth Paralympic Games.

How did you discover Para athletics?

" I was at this centre in Bologna in Italy, making my first prosthetic leg for walking, and I saw some picture on the walls of an athlete running, and I just asked them if I could try the blade.

They gave me the blade for free because at that time they were looking for a new athlete in my category. There was no-one in Italy, nor at an international level. So, it was easier to get into the competition and that is what happened. Two weeks after I got my first prosthetic leg, I set the Italian record in the 100m, which was something like 19.90 seconds."

How do you look back at your Paralympic debut at London 2012 when you won the 100m T42 gold medal?

"At London 2012 I was 21 years old. I was not scared but emotional, curious, thrilled and didn't realise what was going on until the day after I won the gold medal. On the day of the 100 metres, I didn't even know what an athlete really should wear for competing. This just goes to show how I was pretty much a child when I won that gold medal."

Para sprinter Martina Caironi holds out her arms as she crosses the finish line — Caironi made her mark on her Paralympic debut with gold at London 2012 © Getty Images

What did that gold medal mean for you?

"My world changed again. I say again because my first big change was when I lost my leg. I became famous, especially in Italy, and started to consider the idea of becoming a professional, training more and more. But still, this decision only came in 2015, the year before my second Paralympic Games in Rio."

Para sprinter Martini Caironi celebrates her gold medal on the podium — Caironi describes her first Paralympic gold as "world changing" © Getty Images

In what way did you become a professional?

"I was just trying to become what everybody called an athlete. In London they called me an athlete, but I didn’t feel like an athlete. I just felt like a girl in my twenties who ran fast, enjoyed life, and had lots of parties. My lifestyle wasn't that of an athlete. I loved sport, but at that point in my life I didn't want to be like those athletes who are just training, watching videos, eating and sleeping. My priorities were to travel and learn how to live, and I could achieve this goal through sport."

I realised that I had talent, because I had reached the top level without too much effort. And I didn’t want to lose the opportunity of doing sport. At Rio 2016 I was the flag bearer for the Italian delegation, so I felt the responsibility. Now the level is high.

Para sprinter Martina Caironi carrying the Italian flag at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony — Caironi was Italy's flag bearer at the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony © Getty Images

So, if you want to stay there and compete and win, you need to change something in your life. I probably became ready when a stronger competitor came. That’s the point that’s really changed my lifestyle. It's Ambra (Paralympic and world champion Ambra Sabatini). It's all her fault!"

How do you define your personality?

"I have always been very curious and because of my disability I became curious to explore all my limits. I have strengthened myself a lot after what has happened to me and I feel like I already have the tools to go through ugly moments, beautiful moments, and continue onwards.”

You then defended your 100m title at Rio 2016. What did that mean to you?

"I won the gold medal despite a nightmare happening in the race where I almost lost my prosthetic leg. And another Italian (Monica Contrafatto) came third. She was inspired by me, having watched my competition in 2012 from the hospital, so it was closing a circle there; I won the gold medal, I didn't lose my prosthetic leg and after months of suffering, where I had been in crutches for three months, everything ended well."

Para sprinter Martina Caironi running with a prosthetic leg against another athlete — Caironi (right) overcame a number of challenges to retain her Paralympic title in Rio © Getty Images

How do you compare Rio 2016 to London 2012?

"It was very different because in Rio I was more conscious about what was going on and what could happen if I lost my title. I cried a lot after winning this medal. In London I didn't cry, I just smiled, although while I was on the podium my parents were crying in the stands."

Para sprinter Martina Caironi holding up the Italy flag in celebration — Caironi admits defending her 100m title in Rio was an emotional moment © Getty Images

At Tokyo 2020, you were part of an all-Italian podium in the 100m T63 at with Sabatini winning gold, you silver and Contrafatto bronze. What was that like?

"In Italy they just got crazy. In the week after we came home there was an event where we talked about this in a theatre and since that moment, we have become celebrities. I was disappointed for my second place but many, many people recognised me and my role in history. They recognised that I was the one who took the first steps for the movement in Italy in the beginning and who was competing without much motivation, going on and on until the other competitors finally came."

Ambra Sabatini Martina Caironi Monica Contrafatto celebrate in Charlie's Angels pose — (left to right) Ambra Sabatini, Monica Contrafatto and Caironi celebrate their podium sweep at Tokyo 2020 © Getty Images

How do the three of you get along away from the track?

"We are friends even if we are of different ages. Monica is 40-something, I am 34 and Ambra is 22, so we're living different moments of our lives, but it is still beautiful because we share moments and have got lots of invitations to gala events and so on."

Three female Italian Para sprinters arm in arm and celebrating — Caironi describes her Italian sprint rivals as friends off the track © Getty Images

How is it possible that the best three sprinters in the world are from Italy?

"It's not random. There is a good model and structure for top level athletes and, perhaps, the Italian spirit. In Italy we have great technicians who study prosthetic legs and put them on us."

At the Paris 2023 World Championships, the three of you repeated the Tokyo 2020 podium. How did it feel winning another silver?

"It was not easy to lose my gold medal. I say losing because I was winning all competitions during the season so I had been pretty sure to win it, but you should never be that sure. In Italy, we say ’don't say cat if you don't have it in the bag’. I was saying ’cat' too much."

Martina Caironi Ambra Sabatini Monica Graziana running with a giant Italian flag — The Italian sprint trio repeated their 100m podium sweep at the Paris 2023 Worlds © Getty Images

What are your hopes for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games?

"At this point of my career I look forward to Paris, but I am also satisfied with what has happened until now and just want to enjoy my last year. I'm not saying that I'm not going to fight in Paris. I’ve still got a fighting spirit, I'm training a lot and I want to go there, but not with an obsession with gold."

As a pioneer for this Para athletics success in Italy, how do you think it will live on the day that you leave the sport?

"I come from a city where we are famous for building and all I built, and all we build now, is solid like concrete. It's strong, it's established because at the beginning it was like sand."