The 20 year old sport science student from Italy has already won the Super-G crystal globe in her young career as a para-alpine skier. Winning a medal at the Torino 2025 World University Games Winter is next on her to-do list!
For the first time ever, para-athletes will be competing alongside non-disabled athletes in alpine skiing and cross-country skiing at the . This inclusive approach allows everyone to take center-stage at the same time in two of the most popular winter sport events.
Amongst the para-student-athletes to follow, host nation’s champion Martina Vozza, who has already been crowned Super-G World Cup winner. “I can’t wait to compete at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games!” says the sport science student with visual impairement, that Eurosport has followed in her day to day life, meeting her mother, her guide and her coach.
She speaks about her illness very naturally – “It is called albinism, explains Martina Vozza. It affects my vision and I have no melatonin, which explains why I have white hair and skin. I was born with it, so I can’t really explain what and how I can see because to me it’s normal.”
Her coach Danny Gerardini explains that she can only see things close up, which of course is a major challenge when you are flying down the runs on skis. That is why her guide Ylenia Sabidussi and their friendship is central to all her performances.
“The relationship between guide and athlete is very important, sais Ylenia Sabidussi. I know some guides and athletes who are not that close friends, but for us, that wouldn’t work. The world should know that those athletes are very strong, and they are athletes, not only people who have some troubles in life, who are doing sport.”
Both athletes are in constant communication during the training sessions and competition via special devices and the distances between them has to be as consistent as possible.
Martina Vozza is quite clear: she believes sport helps people, whether they have a disability or not. She says her skiing has given her life goals. She manages to impressively have a dual career, as she studies sport science online and successfully shares her time between her training and her studies.
“Expectations are very high, admits her coach, because we know that she is very strong, especially in the speed disciplines, where she already won the World Cup of the specialty. We will do our best to be able to bring home this medal!”
And a few weeks from the beginning of the event, Martina Vozza is more excited than stressed: “I am happy to compete alongside non-disabled athletes. Us para-athletes need more visibility!”
Eurosport x FISU Athlete portrait: Martina Vozza, para-alpine skier
Meet inspiring Italian student-para-athlete Martina Vozza as she talks about her illness, her growing love for ski, her friendship for her guide Ylenia Sabidussi and how excited she is to compete alongside non-disabled athletes in the Piemonte mountains.
You will find this second Eurosport x FISU Athlete Portrait . And make sure to check out the first one, which tells the story of the Ukrainian men’s curling team. This is also where you will be able to follow all the action from the from 13 till 23 January 2025. So make sure to download the app or bookmark the website to follow your favourite student-athletes and para-student-athletes and get a huge breath of fresh air straight from the Piemonte mountains.
Written by Thérèse Courvoisier
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